My Day: Quest Honoree – 2015 Mrs. Mollie Marie Finch Belt

By Dr. J. Ester Davis

Mrs. Mollie Belt is a serious “Dallas Maker” , a producer and quite frankly a living legend with credible ties across the nation and beyond.  Some years ago  when the “Black Dallas Remembered” group was placing their heros in order of accomplishments, Mollie’s father, Attorney Fred Finch was among the list of ‘first pioneers’.  Fred Finch’s office was on Oakland Avenue, now Malcolm X Blvd.  At one time there were several lawyers  in his law firm.  Mollie inherited the newspaper from her father’s collection of businesses.   Continuously through the  “making of Dallas” the Finch/Belt family have been present with profound success.

I have an incredible appreciation for those of us who were on the front line after voting rights and civil rights.  Mollie’s distinguished awards are too numerous to name, but I am reminded of her early employment days.  She was Branch Chief in the office for Civil Rights for twenty (20) years, a counselor with the Texas Employment Commission, all before self empowerment as Publisher/CEO of The Dallas Examiner Newspaper,  a weekly publication.  The newspaper is a family affair, with the publisher mentoring  interns, young journalists and media professionals.

Mollie Belt is a life member of the NAACP, and a Delta “Dear” (50 Years), member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.  Being the publisher of a major newspaper is not enough to keep her and the family busy, so her talents, journey and reputation have taken her to other heights.  She has served as Vice President of the Texas Publishers Association, First Vice Chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association

(NNPA), and as recorded in the U. S. Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., an American  History Marker.

Mrs. Belt has been  married for decades to James C. Belt, Jr.,  a decorated attorney in the State of Texas.

The couple is known for their “swing dancing” at balls and galas as often as fun times  permits.

Thank you, Mrs. Belt, for your positive energy, vision, caring and journalistic excellence.

www.esterday.com