By Harry A. Woods, Jr., OBA President, 2004

Welcome to this historic and exciting event on the occasion of the OBA's 100th birthday.

I express thanks to Stephen Beam for the exceptional job he has done as chairperson of the OBA Centennial Task Force; to Melissa DeLacerda for the outstanding job she has done in planning today's events; and to John Williams and the bar staff for their loyal and dedicated service and support of our Centennial event.

Today, we dedicate the beautiful new OBA Centennial Plaza. It was fully funded by member purchases of personalized bricks. This demonstrates our members' strong support of the OBA and involvement in it. I extend special thanks to each person who purchased a brick and helped make the plaza possible.

The plaza honors our past. It beautifies our bar center grounds. It creates a nice place for our members to "hang out." It offers a commanding view of our state Capitol. It reminds us that our members have made major contributions to our state and its citizens. It expresses our optimism about the future. Hopefully, in 2104, at the second centennial, it and, in particular, the time capsule, will remind our then-existing members of all that the association and its members accomplished in our first 100 years.

A photograph of the plaza has been posted on the OBA Web site for the past few weeks. From the perspective it was taken, it looks somewhat like a helicopter landing/takeoff pad. Initially, I thought it inappropriate to note this fact. However, upon reflection, I decided that the helicopter pad analogy is a strong and appropriate one. As with a helicopter ride, our association has been on a journey. It has been a highly successful one, and it is appropriate that we land, briefly, today, and think about where we have been and celebrate our successes. A helicopter pad is also for taking off and going on other journeys. I am confident that our association and its members will take off and accomplish even more in our second century. We are well-prepared for this journey, and we look forward to it with great anticipation.