The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Kirk Roccaforte, mayor of Bridge City, was honored with a hurricane theme at the 9th Celebrity Roast, sponsored by the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce at the Bridge City Community Center on the evening of October 22. Former County Judge Carl Thibodeaux, left, gave Roccaforte and "autographed" photo from former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball

David Ball - For The Record

The timing is ironic.

Kirk Roccaforte, mayor of Bridge City, was honored with a hurricane theme at the 9th Celebrity Roast, sponsored by the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce at the Bridge City Community Center on the evening of October 22 while Hurricane Patricia was about to make landfall in Mexico. Roccaforte was a city councilman during Hurricane Rita and mayor during Hurricane Ike.

Everyone had a good time poking fun at each other. The event started with Rev. Jack Comer Circle Drive Baptist Church giving the invocation. Introductions were given by Scot Shaffer, chamber president of the roasters- Judge Carl Thibodeaux, Judge Don Burgess, Bobbie Burgess, Kevin Mott, and David Ess. The Master of Ceremonies was Mike Hatton. Mayor Roccaforte also got a chance to make a rebuttal after some friendly exchanges.

The event sponsors were the city of Bridge City, Orange County Navigation and Port District, Dr. Fred Zoch Family Dentistry, Bridge City Radiator & Automotive, Bridge City Bank, Nickum State Farm Agency, Sabine Federal Credit Union, Karen Collier-Edward Jones, Sabine River Ford, Granger Chevrolet, and Bridge City ISD.

The event committee consisted of Jerry Jones, co-chair; Shirley Zimmerman, co-chair; Beverly Perry, Scot Shaffer, and Michael Hanneman. The meal was catered by Hushpuppy Seafood & Catering, sports memorabilia auction by Don Bonnin; videographer Joe Shannon; and photographer Chris Slaughter.