Kings County Conservative Party Honors Dominic Carter with American Heritage Award
By Robert Pearl
Veteran journalist, author, political commentator, and 77WABC Radio personality Dominic Carter was honored with the American Heritage Award at the Kings County Conservative Party’s Annual American Heritage Reception on July 23 at the Knights of Baron DeKalb in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The event celebrated Carter’s more than four decades in broadcast journalism, recognizing his distinguished career as a radio host, television commentator, author, and one of New York’s most respected media voices.
Hosted by Kings County Conservative Party and Chairwoman
Frances Vella Marrone, the reception brought together elected officials, candidates, community leaders, and supporters to recognize Carter’s professional achievements while celebrating the values of perseverance, public service, and the American Dream.
Presenting the award, Vella Marrone praised Carter’s remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in a Bronx housing project to becoming a nationally recognized broadcaster.
“Where you begin in life does not determine where you can go,” she said, describing Carter as someone whose life story reflects the opportunities made possible through determination, personal responsibility, and hard work. She also commended his willingness to openly share his experiences through his journalism and bestselling memoir, “No Momma’s Boy”, inspiring listeners and readers far beyond New York City.
Accepting the honor, Carter explained that he had undergone surgery less than 24 hours earlier but was determined to attend.
“I was not going to miss this event,” he told the audience. “The Conservative Party has saved my life.” Carter reflected on his upbringing in public housing and his political evolution, saying he came to embrace the values of work, family, accountability, and opportunity. “I was a lifelong Democrat… but the Democrat Party left me. I didn’t leave them,” he said, noting he proudly shares those beliefs on the air and during speaking engagements nationwide.
One of the evening’s heartfelt moments came when Carter invited his son, Dominic Jr., and wife, Marilyn, to the stage. Sharing that doctors once believed his son would never graduate from high school because of epilepsy and a learning disability, Carter proudly announced that Dominic Jr. earned two college degrees.
“Never let anybody define who you are,” Carter said, drawing sustained applause.
Vella Marrone thanked supporters and volunteers for strengthening the Kings County Conservative Party and encouraged continued grassroots involvement.
“We’re going to keep fighting and fighting,” she said, urging attendees to remain engaged in preserving liberty and opportunity through civic participation.
Additional remarks were delivered by Conservative Party State Chairman Gerard Kassar, Assembly Minority Leader Edward Ra, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, and other elected officials, all of whom praised Carter’s broadcasting career and contributions to journalism. The evening concluded with a standing ovation, featuring book signings, and photographs as guests celebrated Carter’s enduring impact on New York media and public discourse.
Robert Pearl is a Brooklyn-based journalist who writes about New York City media, politics, and culture. He can be emailed at pearlknows@yahoo.com.
Tournament is one of the industry’s signature events. It offers a unique opportunity to play one of the region’s premier courses while spending the day with colleagues, industry leaders, and celebrities, all in support of a charity that provides a vital lifeline to our fellow broadcasters when they need it most.” All proceeds from the tournament directly benefit the BFOA’s charitable mission.
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equity, or Wall Street investors. We answer to one group: our audience. This milestone proves there’s tremendous demand for independent voices delivering news, politics, sports, and commentary people can trust. Truth and clarity are making a comeback.” Company CEO Anne Fredericks adds, “We strive to cover what matters most in people’s daily lives: their country, their community, and their sports teams. News, talk, and sports are simply different expressions of the same mission: giving people truthful information, honest perspective, and a voice. What makes the John Fredericks Media Network different is our independence. No newsroom hierarchy, no C-Suites, no suits and no boardrooms.”
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reporting. While this chapter has come to an end, I remain committed to the values that have guided my career: serving the public, pursuing the truth, and treating people with fairness and respect. I want to thank my colleagues, mentors, friends, and family – especially my wife and sons – for their support throughout this journey. I look forward to what comes next and the opportunity to continue contributing meaningful work. I will still be broadcasting games, and I will continue to be a member of the Indiana University Radio Network.” This comes on the heels of the spring firing of late morning talk host Rob Kendall and the subsequent exit of late morning co-host Casey Daniels, who left of her own volition. 
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devoted to chronicling the development and growth of what he envisioned as “the coming talk radio phenomenon of the nineties.” The publication went on to publish as a newspaper on newsprint evolving into a glossy magazine and eventually an online publication fully devoted to serving the needs of talk radio and eventually a variety of spoken word platforms that have collectively become known as talk media. TALKERS also contributed to the growth of the field by producing 28 national conventions / conferences in New York and two in Los Angeles, more than 50 groundbreaking radio rows, dozens of talk show host tours of international hot spots, and thousands of hours of spoken word syndicated and online programming. Throughout its colorful history, TALKERS always maintained a neutral position regarding politics except for, as Harrison puts it, “unwavering support of the First Amendment.”
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CEO John Catsimatidis states, “Audiences around the globe deserve the facts about what is going on in our world and that is why we created the Worldwide News Network. We’re delighted to partner with BLR and look forward to working with them as we continue to expand our reach into more European markets and around the world.” Worldwide News Network SVP of news and programming Lee Harris comments, “Expanding beyond the U.S. is an important milestone for Worldwide News Network. We’re excited to partner with BLR to bring an authentic American perspective on world events. This is the first step in building an international network of partners who value trusted, high-quality radio journalism.”