Dallas, TX — The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth held the 2011 Sun & Star Legacy Award Dinner and Auction benefitting the residents of Sendai, Japan, Victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Thursday, April 28 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club, Dallas at Las Colinas.

The evening started with a cocktail reception for dignitaries hosted by former Dallas Mayor and United States Senatorial Candidate Tom Leppert along with Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief and wife Rosie who served as honorary hosts for the event. Evening highlights included an address by Keynote Speaker Thomas W. Horton, President of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, Inc., a toast by The Honorable Takahiko Watabe, Deputy Consul-General of Japan and the presentation of the Bridges-to-Friendship Award presented by Mayor Moncrief to John H. Stich, Honorary Consul General of Japan at Dallas. The Sun & Star Legacy Award was then presented to Thomas W. Horton of AMR and American Airlines.

Following the awards dinner, attendees were treated to a Live Auction conducted by United Country President Mike Jones that included exotic trips, sports packages and unique items followed by a “Fund-A-Relief” campaign. Highlights of the auction included multiple international trips via American Airlines and JAL, Dallas Mavericks Autographed ball and package, Spa trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Nolan Ryan Package including a Texas Rangers Baseball Club Suite, Dallas Cowboys package and more.

Sponsors for the event included United Country Auction Services, 7-11, Inc., American Airlines, DFW Airport, Texas Instruments, Ernst & Young, Toyota, Haynes and Boone, LLP and others.