News Article Submitted by R. L. Hall
Monday March 12, 2007
Ashby,
Koch, Juarez earn top Chamber awards at banquet
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INSPIRATIONAL Keynote speaker Jerry Traylor of McCook, Neb., shares his inspirational message with Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce members and their guests. Staff photo by Alexa Duke |
Longtime Henderson resident
William Ashby received the Lifetime Achievement Award during Thursday night's
81st annual Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce membership banquet at First
United Methodist Church.
Ashby joined Joe Koch and Gina Juarez as the Chamber's top award recipients in
recognition of their individual contributions to the community, while Bonnie
Geddie and Bill Burns were honored for service to the Chamber over the past
year.
Ashby, retired advertising manager for the Henderson Daily News, has worked in a variety of community-focused volunteer roles, including as a board member of the Main Street Advisory Board and as chairman of the Rusk County Historical Commission.
Marty McDonald, last year's
Lifetime Achievement Award honoree who presented Ashby the award, said, “If you
want something done, call a busy person, and around Henderson, William Ashby is
that person.”
The John R. Alford Young Man of the Year Award was presented to Koch, who has
supported several local activities and organizations over the past decade,
including the Rusk County Youth Project Show, Rusk County Crime Stoppers and the
Optimist Club basketball tournament.
“In the past 11 years, good
things have happened to me because of the support of the community and (my)
associates,” Koch said as he accepted the award from 2006 recipient Kelley
Fredrickson. “And I look forward to giving back to the community for many
years.”
The Louise Jacks Outstanding Woman of the Year Award was presented to Gina
Juarez, who has helped to connect the Hispanic population to the area, said 2006
recipient Darla Cloutier, who presented the Jacks award.
Juarez has served as a translator for several organizations, including both the
Children's Advocacy Center and Henderson Memorial Hospital.
The Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce also recognized its volunteers with the
Ambassador and Silver Star of the Year awards.
Golden Corral co-owner Bonnie Geddie was presented with the Ambassador of the
Year Award, and Edward “Bill” Burns was presented with the Silver Star of the
Year.
Three retiring Chamber of
Commerce directors were also honored for their contributions to the Chamber and
the Henderson community at Thursday's annual banquet.
Immediate past president Malinda Jones presented William Cooper, Ricki Keeling
and Keith Holmes a plaque for their work as Chamber directors.
Prior to the awards, motivational speaker Jerry Traylor, who has addressed some
of America's most esteemed corporations, spoke on the obstacles he has overcome
with cerebral palsy.
“I went forward and did my best,” he said commenting on some of his
achievements, which include jogging across the country. “And all we can do,
either by ourselves or as a community, is strive for excellence.”
In a slide presentation that demonstrated his life and chronicled many of his
achievements, Traylor shared photos of his trek from San Francisco's Golden Gate
Bridge to New York's Brooklyn Bridge.
“When I told my friends I wanted to do this (jog across the country) what do you
think they said?” he asked the crowd. “They said, how can we help? How can we
work together to make this happen.”
Traylor said in order for someone to achieve their goals it is important to be
surrounded by exceptional people and to educate those people on the vision they
have for themselves.
“There is a lot of potential in this room,” he said. “If we work together, we
win together.”
Staff Writer Michele Marcotte can be reached via e-mail at
schools@hendersondailynews.com.