2016 Henry P. Iba Awards honor 2 local stars

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — The 23rd annual Henry P. Iba Awards took place tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa. The event is always star-studded, and this year was no different. The NFL's all-time leading rusher and Hall of Fame member Emmitt Smith was the Keynote Speaker. The former Dallas Cowboys star had glowing remarks for this year's Male Recipient.

"You know, it's always exciting when you see a young man grow into his own -do things others didn't think he could do," Smith said. "I was classified the same way. When you take a guy like Tyler Lockett and you watch him return kicks, and watch him make big plays as a wide receiver - when he's not supposed to even play the position because of his size or whatever you want to call it. Here's a guy that believes in himself, that he's a big giant, even though he's in a little person's body."

That "little person's body" is from right here in Tulsa, making the award that much more special for the former Booker T. Washington Hornet.

"For them to be able to see that, and to see that I'm trying to help out with the community, trying to be able to do things to be able to make a difference and be able to help everyone else out - even in my city, or my state - I think that speaks volumes," Lockett said. "For the Iba Awards to be able to look at me, and be able to select me as a recipient, I think that speaks a lot of volumes just because it's coming from my home town."

It wasn't just Lockett who realizes the importance of receiving the Iba Award - Madeline Manning Mims, this year's Female Recipient, also grasps the value of this recognition.

"I think that's probably the highest award that anyone can get," Mims said. "For someone to acknowledge that they have the type of character of a role model, of a true champion - someone they want their kids to look up to... it's overwhelming."