Chamber banquet Saturday night

By: Sherrie Williams
The annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at First Family Center with Bill Lockwood, preacher of Iowa Park Church of Christ as guest speaker.

He will speak on the United States Constitution and a Patriotic theme will be carried out at the banquet.

The Iowa Park High School ROTC will present the colors and the Jazz Band will perform as people arrive for the banquet.

A meal of pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, dessert and tea, catered by Kathy’s Bakery, will be served.

Cost for the banquet is $15 and tickets are available in advance at the office of Economic Development at 104 North Wall, Parkway True Value, and First Bank.
Numerous door prizes will be given away during the banquet.

The centerpiece of each table will be given as well as other prizes donated by local businesses including an iPad donated by Cryovac.

Each meal ticket bought will include a ticket for the door prize drawing and additional tickets will be available for $1 each or 25 tickets for $20.

The highlight of the banquet is the presentation of awards for Outstanding Citizen, Senior Citizen, Educator, Student, and Business of the Year.

The Citizen of the Year Award has been presented to a deserving person in the community since 1971, with Gladys James being the first recipient.

Other winners include Dr. Gordon Clark, Mrs. Frank Harlin, Ralph Beall, Wayne House, Darrell Dick, Lita Watson, Mrs. Charlie Lee, Bill Steger, Gordon Griffith, Buck Voyles, Bill Gilmore, H.M. Nipper, Iowa Park Volunteer Fire Department, and Grover Cleveland.

Also, Frances George, James Barrington, Dr. Erwin Soell, Robert Palmer, Bob Hamilton, Michael Price, Ruth Welch, Sheri Kennedy, Joe Hughes, Louis Sefcik, O.N. Newman, Kenneth Via, Tommy Key, Richard Hicks, Glena Via, Steven Raby, Danny Skinner, Murray Shook, Gene Jordan, Tim Hunter, Dolores Hamilton, Chris Schlaud, Kathy Riggins, Randy Fulbright, Ouida Gartman, and Molly Dutton.

The award for Outstanding Senior Citizen began in 1976. Recipients include: Fenton Dale, Mrs. W.F. George, Arch Hughes, Charlie Metz, Bertha McDonald, Otis Gay, Mrs. James Sewell, Lester Brooks, Riley Thompson, Olive Blalock, Pauline Singleton, Carl Sullivan, Ida Mae Lehman, Raymond Good, Tommie Smith, Betty Lowe, Wayne House, Virgil Woodfin, Myrna Robinson.

Also, Laverne Owen, Dean Henderson, Carlton Hicks, Joe Singer, Margaret Sheets, James Beals, Claudia Friday, Norm Fortner, Wayne Williams, Betty Merriman, Betty Dyer, Martha Dudley, Jake Jacobi, Joe Ward, Marilyn Hale, Catherine Stephenson, and Peggy Robertson.

Outstanding Educator Award was first presented in 1979 to John Sibley. Other winners are Ethyle Kidwell, Linda Ayres, Bob Dawson, Earnie Reusch, Patsy Todd, Carol Edwards, Joni Whitis, Greg Miller, Jim Gotcher, Helen Roberts, Carole Venhaus, Kenneth Davis.

Also, Carolyn Richter, Dorothy Palmer, Linda Gray, Joann Hale, Jean Johnson, Pat Cravens, Richard Davis, Mike Caplinger, Ed Hefti, Leslie Crumb, Wendy Meadows, Kellie Gibson, George Collins, Mozelle Sullivan, Chris Ellis, Necia Wilson, Gayle Miller, Stephanie Roberts, Brandi Swenson and Coach David Fuhrman.

The award for Agriculture was first presented in 1978 to Virgil Woodfin, followed by Loys Barbour, Ray Hicks, Rex Wells, Barry Mahler, Louie McCarthy, Dewey Spruiell, Robert Wilcox, Stanley Williamson, Freddie Daume.

Also, Denny McCarthy, Marvin Klinkerman, David Robnett, Gene Jordan, Richard Hill, Jeff Watts, Dan Glass, and Wendy Meadows.

The Agriculture award was discontinued in 2003, and was replaced by the Outstanding Student award.

The first recipient was Amanda Perry, followed by: Justin Swenson, Haley Thompson, Bethany Dillard, Kelsey Johnson, Zac Davis, Courtney Decker and Amanda Fuhrman.

Outstanding businesses that have been recognized include: Cryovac, State National Bank, City of Iowa Park, Entex, Dutton Funeral Home, B&R Thriftway, Scobee’s Mini Mart, Park Clinic, Ken’s Pizza, Iowa Park CISD, Red River Harley Davidson, K&K Foods, IESI, North Texas Vortex, Auto Craft Collision, Subway, Kathy’s Bakery and Deli, Mundy Construction, Parkway True Value, Brad’s Quick Change and Used Cars, Gene James Heating and Cooling, and Ken’s Pizza.