An 11-year-old law firm started by an attorney born in South India took home the fifth-annual minority business awards from the Rotary Club of Fort Worth on April 25.
“It is an incredible honor to receive the Richard L. Knight Rotary Minority Business Award,” said Benson Varghese, founder and managing partner of Varghese Summersett. “To be recognized by a city and an organization that has given so much to businesses like ours is truly humbling. Fort Worth has embraced me and our firm from the very beginning, and I am deeply grateful.”
The Varghese Summersett law firm was awarded the Richard L. Knight Rotary Minority Business Award, which recognizes minority-owned businesses that exemplify core values and best practices. Out of 125 nominated businesses, six finalists were selected and recognized during a special awards luncheon held at the Fort Worth Club.
The first place honoree, Varghese Summersett, is a criminal defense, personal injury and family law practice. Founded in 2014, Varghese Summersett has been named a Fort Worth Chamber Small Business of the Year, among other honors.
After Varghese Summersett was announced as the honoree, co-founder Benson Varghese reflected on his personal journey.
“I took my wife, Anna Summersett, and my three boys to India last month. It was their first time visiting where I was born and spent my formative years,” Varghese said. “I was born in a house without plaster on the walls, without running water. In South India, electricity comes and goes. To go from that to where we are today — to be blessed to work with amazing people and impact families — is incredible.”
Varghese decided to start a law firm 11 years ago even though there “weren’t many people who looked like me doing what I was trying to do.”
But, he said, people in Fort Worth supported him.
“I can’t think of a single instance where I wasn’t given an opportunity based on where I was from or what I looked like,” Varghese said. “What this Rotary Club and this community have built — a place where everyone is welcome and businesses are supported — is commendable.”
This year, the first place honoree received a one-year membership to the Rotary Club, a tuition reduction scholarship to the UTA Executive MBA at UTA Fort Worth, a three-minute professional video and a trophy presented by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. Other honorees receive a sliding scale of rewards.
The Rotary Minority Business Awards program was established five years ago by the Rotary Club of Fort Worth to honor and engage with minority-owned businesses that have demonstrated core elements of the Rotary through leadership, community engagement and outstanding business practices in Fort Worth.
At the awards ceremony this year, it was announced that the awards were renamed to honor the late Richard L. Knight, vice president of the family-owned Knight Waste Services and a community leader who chaired the awards before his death in spring 2024. Knight made significant contributions to Fort Worth’s minority business community, particularly through his visionary leadership and tireless advocacy.
Richard Knight’s son, Rashaud Knight, said he was proud of all his father did, both in work and in life.
“I’m proud of the number of people that my father was able to employ over 20 years as a business owner, and I’m more proud of the volunteer work he’s done with the Rotary Club to put other minority businesses and business owners in the same position,” he said.
Jeff Postell Jr., president and CEO of Post L. Group, said Richard Knight was a great entrepreneur who was committed to giving back to others.
“And as entrepreneurs, you are the fuel that powers the people in our community,” he said.
NBC DFW anchor Deborah Ferguson emceed the program.
Following the tributes and remarks, the six finalists were recognized for their outstanding achievements before the top honorees were announced.
They included:
The Rotary Club is an international service organization of businesspeople who raise funds for projects in the community. The Rotary Club of Fort Worth dates back to 1913.
The fourth annual program was presented by the Bank of Texas. A feature on the awards appears in the Rotary International magazine’s May issue.
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at [email protected]. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Related
Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.
Republish This Story
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.
