Presenting Sponsor Farmers State Bank Gold Sponsors
General Shelters of Texas Omni Environmental Solutions VIP Reception
Mangum Funeral Home Republic Services
Silver Sponsors
American State Bank, City of Center, High Roller Wells, LLC
Table Sponsors
First Financial Bank Vision Source Panola College Shelby Regional Training Center Hope Community Medicine Cline Family Medicine Sabine State Bank Focused Care of Center Blake Furniture Tyson Foods Center Broadcasting Shelby Savings Bank Hallmark Center Fixture Operations Mathews Real Estate Deep East Texas Electric Co-op Holiday Nursing Center Town and Country Real Estate Hicks Mortuary Pg. 2
Board of Directors Hollie Adams Holiday Nursing Home
Johnathan Liker Farmers State Bank
Wil Blackshear Ihlo Sales & Imports
Cindy Lindsey Sassy Red’s Bakery
Trey Byrnes Despino’s Tire Service
Chad Nehring City of Center
Camille Cooper Farmers State Bank
Jason Orsak Tyson Foods
Dean Brian Farmers State Bank
Marco Pallares Farmers State Bank
Doyle Roger Watson & Sons Funeral Home
Leigh Porterfield Wayne Christian Financial
Melody Griffin R&D Distributing
April Prince CCP Property Management
John Grigsby American State Bank
Alison Scull Bounds Insurance
David Hailey Texas Farm Bureau
Jose Solis General Shelters of Texas, Ltd.
Josh Hannah Ivan Smith Furniture
Retha Starky General Shelters of Texas, Ltd.
James Hockenberry Center ISD
Bryan Wages Texas Farm Bureau
Michael Hooks Brookshire Brothers
Jackie Windham Windham Family Dental
Alma Jaimes Town & Country Real Estate
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Shelby County Chamber of Commerce History The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. Over the course of the past 100 years, the Chamber of Commerce has been exceedingly fortunate in having outstanding business and community volunteers give of their time, energy, resources and leadership. The first Chamber Board President was H.B. (Butler) Johnson. On the night of August 27, 1919, Mr. Johnson invited 40 Center businessmen to meet at the Hurd Haley’s Cafe for a big supper in order to organize a Chamber of Commerce for Center. Mr. Johnson treated his guests to dinner (25 cents per plate) and was elected President that night. He served two terms from 1919 to 1922. Some of the men present that night were Judge Jim Sanders, Neal Runnels, J.P. Wood, W.G. (Bill) Carnahan, Ed Nicholson, Oz Metz (third Chamber President), the Rev. A.C. Babcock, H.H. Jones, Sr., John C. Rogers and Bill Norris. A number of these men were appointed to the Board of Directors. Meetings were held at Motley Department Store where Butler Johnson worked. During Mr. Johnson’s time as Board President, two bonds were passed for water mains and road improvement into the downtown square. Mr. Johnson was largely responsible for the passing of the bonds. The first bond passed in 1921, in the amount of $25,000 to extend the water mains approximately two blocks off the square, down the main access streets. Immediately following this project, a second bond was passed which was used for paving the streets around the square and to extend the pavement down the main streets leading into the square. It was the task of the Chamber to get all the stores in Center to close in order for the male employees to work on the road projects. At that time, roads into town were “pretty bad” and not maintained. All males over the age of 21 years, were required to give five days a year working on the roads, or hire someone to take his Pg. 4
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce History place. The county had some equipment to use, but volunteer labor had to do the work. Not only was Butler Johnson the first Chamber Board President, but he was also a strong church supporter and a member of the Rotary Club. Mr. Johnson joined the Center Rotary Club in 1932 and had a perfect attendance record for 29 years until health issues prevented him from attending meetings. Butler Johnson was married to Velma Sanders. They had two daughters. It is men like Butler Johnson who had vision and made a commitment to use time, talents and resources to help make the community a better place to live and work. Thank you to Buster Bounds for the interview he had with Butler Johnson in 1976 Thank you to The Champion for publishing the interview. Information for this article came from the published interview on April 14, 1976.
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Past Presidents Butler Johnson 1919-1922 T.O. Davis 1922-1923 Oz Metz 1923-1924 Dr. Bill Windham 1924-1925 Butler Johnson 1925-1926 Forney Parker 1926-1929 Smith Sanders 1929-1930 T. Wood Smith 1930-1932 F.L. Moffett 1932-1934 Guy “Bubba” Cowser 1934-1935 L.C. Smith 1935-1936 M.B. Simon 1936-1937 W.D. Weaver 1937-1938 Jack Motley 1938-1939 Dr. Hap Rogers 1939-1940 Prentice Sanders 1942-1943 Dr. W. C. Windham 1943-1944 Heber Parker 1945-1946 Guy “Bubba” Cowser 1946-1947 Mann Pinkston 1947-1949 Prentice Sanders 1949-1951 Bob Pinkston 1951-1952 Frank E. Parker 1952-1953 R. E. Malone 1953-1954 Jimmy Jones 1954-1956 Bob Fairchild 1956-1957 Malcolm Weaver 1957-1958 Rex Payne 1958-1959 W. I. Davis, Jr. 1959-1960 Tommy Morrison, Jr. 1960-1961 M.L. Bussey 1961-1962 D.S. McIver 1962-1963 Harold McDonald 1963-1964 W.R. Bowlin 1964-1965 Luke Motley, III 1965-1966 J.A. Howard 1966-1967 Mitchell Jetton 1967-1968 Pg. 6
Past Presidents Roy Woolley 1968-1969 Bob O’Donoghue 1969-1970 Bill Hancock 1970-1971 Bobby Windham 1971-1972 L. C. Hufferd 1972-1973 David Weaver 1973-1974 Vance Payne 1974-1975 John D. Windham 1975-1976 Buster Bounds 1976-1977 Sammy Dance 1977-1978 Don Pinkston 1978-1979 Fred Wulf 1979-1980 Neilson Davis 1980-1981 Tem Morrison 1981-1982 David Chadwick 1982-1983 Charles Rushing 1983-1984 Leon Aldridge 1984-1985 Stephen Taylor 1985-1986 Larry Gooch 1986-1987 Kathy Thomas 1987-1988 Rick Campbell 1988-1989 Roy Blackshear 1989-1990 Tim Wulf 1990-1991 John Snider 1991-1992 Suzanne Davis 1992-1993 Wayne Cosby 1993-1994 Mac McCuistion 1994-1995 Mark Ivey 1995-1996 Joe Fomby 1996-1997 Mary Lynn Tinkle 1997-1998 Chance Shoop 1998-1999 Sheilah Reeves 1999-2000 Paul Pustka 2000-2001 Frances Oates 2001-2002 Rayford Copelin 2002-2003 Sandra Gray 2003-2004 Phil Bullock 2004-2005 Pg. 7
Past Presidents Terry Scull Robin Bradberry David Koonce John Howard Stephen Shires Hollie Adams Kimberly McElroy Chad Nehring Randy Collard Derek Pierce Jim Sawyer Meg Camp Bryan Wages
2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors April 23, 1980 (Back Row) Buck Williams, David Chadwick, Curtis Lawhorn, Stephen Taylor, Nell Brown, Fred Wulf, Joe Fomby, Roy Woolley, Boby Pinkston (Front Row) McNeil Moore, Neilson Davis, Buster Bounds, RIchard Prince, Ken Allen, Joy Covington, Charles Rushing, Steve Tinkle
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Distinguished Service Award The Young Citizen of the Year Award and the Distinguished Service Award are given at the Banquet to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and personal involvement that enriches the general welfare of the community whether through business, civic, religious and/or social organizations. The first Distinguished Service Award recipient was John Moosberg in 1968. Since that time, many truly outstanding community leaders have been recognized for their tremendous contributions to the community. In 1976, there were two Awards given; one to Mann Pinkston and the other to Frances Oates (Outstanding Young Woman of the Year). Many years later Frances Oates received the Distinguished Service Award in 1993. She is only individual to receive the award twice. 1968 John Moosberg 1976 Frances Oates (Outstanding Young Woman of the Year) 1976 Mann Pinkston 1977 Jack Motley 1978 S. H. Fletcher 1979 Ione Middleton 1980 Phabrice Payne 1981 Catherine Pinkston 1982 Dr. L. S. Oates, Sr. 1983 Mitchell Jetton 1984 F. L. Moffett 1985 J. A. Howard 1986 Bob Pinkston 1987 James Campbell 1988 Bill Bowlin 1989 Frank Edward Parker 1990 Gene Walker 1991 Mary Haley 1992 Marshall L. Anderson 1993 Frances Oates 1994 Floyd A. Watson 1995 McNeil Moore, Jr.
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Pg. 9
George Bowers David Chadwick Mary Lynn Tinkle Fred Wulf John Dean Windham Buster Bounds Perry Brittain Albert H. Burns Sue Partin George Green Lynda K. Russell Charles Rushing John Snider Mattie Dellinger Bobby Daw Venorah McSwain John Howard Larry Hume Rick Campbell Alease Copelin Jim Forbes Colleen Doggett Dr. Jheri-Lynn McSwain
Young Citizen of the Year The Young Citizen of the Year Award was founded in 1966 with John Dean Windham being the first recipient in 1967. To be eligible for the Young Citizen of the Year one must be between the ages of 18 and 39. The nominee must be a resident of Shelby County during at least six month of the year for which the award is given but is not required to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce or to be employed by a Chamber member. 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
John Dean Windham McNeil Moore, Jr. Bobby Windham Vance Payne Richard Prince Luke Motley Joe Fomby Buster Bounds Bill Haley Sammy Dance Fred Wulf David Chadwick Neilson Davis Jimmy Parker Marshall Morris Stephen Taylor Kathy Thomas Ron Cox James Greer Tony May Larry Gooch Rick Campbell Roy Blackshear Bob Reeves Tim Wulf Rob Payne Doice Grant Chris Watlington Mike Brister
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
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Lisa McAdams Sheilah Reeves Dwight & Stephanie Preston John Warner Frank Simpson Deborah Chadwick Alvin & Vanessa Davis Chance Shoop Will Lucas Jason Locke Mark Leach Stephen Shires Terry Scull David Hailey Veronica Berry Luke Garrett Jason Mitchell Kimberly McElroy Joey Lawson Josh McAdams Anna Lee Wil Blackshear Clayton Paul Windham
Farm Family of the Year The first Farm Family of the Year was presented in 1976 to Gilbert Link. Early on, the Award was presented to individuals and families whose income came solely from their farming business. As times have changed and a secondary source of income is necessary, the Farm Family Award now goes to individuals and families who have a large footprint in the agricultural industry.
1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Gilbert Link 2005 Lois & Donald O’Rear D.C. McSwain 2006 Sheila & Henry Hudspeth Jewell Matlock 2007 Dawn and Austin Lucas Prentice Vaughn 2008 Dalene & Colman Bivens Ronnie Borders 2009 Will, Jill, Ali and Wade Arnold Kaluza Baty Dick Parker 2010 Shelby Johnson James E. Muckelroy 2011 Sherryl & Buddy McGown John H. Childs 2012 Cecilia & Ken Boles Jim Livingston 2013 Jan & Terry Allen Kenneth Baker 2014 Malcolm & Kristi Brown Claude Lucas 2015 Robert & David Griffin Richard Livingston 2016 Jeff & Betty Parker Royce Lynn Johnson 2017 Lane & Betty Chambers Melvin Fleming 2018 The Doyle Carter Family Paul Putman Douglas Jackson Glenda & Alan Ray Larry Cooper Clay Kruegar Mike Baldwin Zack Warr Steve Stephens Janie and Rex Rains Jay D. Cockrell Family Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Smith Sandy & David Wheeler Elizabeth & Jesse Ybarra Mary Jo & Harold Baty Pg. 11
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Teachers of the Year 1991- Portia Gaines-Secondary-Center Gloria Fiedler-Elementary-Center 1992- Carolyn Bounds-Secondary-Center Cathy Taylor-Elementary-Center 1993- Leanne Fenley-Secondary-Center Martha Caddell-Elementary-Center 1994- Belinda Loftice-(only one recipient)-Center 1995- Elaine Snider-Center 1996- Matt Loftice-Center 1997- Pat Crawford-Timpson 1998- Fannie Watson-Center 1999- Lin Gamble-Joaquin 2000- Mike Wood-Joaquin 2001- Brenda Agnew-Tenaha 2002- Vicki Edge-Center-Elementary Rob Payne-Center-Secondary Teacher 2003- Sharon Samford - Timpson-Elementary Teacher Silver Motley - Center-Secondary Teacher 2004 – Alice Sue Howard – Excelsior – Elementary Teacher Dottie West – Shelbyville – Secondary Teacher 2005 – Debbie Leggett – Joaquin Elementary & Joaquin High School Frank Fitzgerald – S. W. Carter Elementary, Shelbyville 2006 – Randy Smith – Joaquin Elementary Winola Ellis – Shelbyville High School 2006 – Randy Smith – Joaquin Elementary Winola Ellis – Shelbyville High School Pg. 12
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Teachers of the Year 2007 – Carol Windham – Shelbyville Middle School Sharon Stewart – Timpson Elementary 2008 – Judy Andrews – Excelsior ISD Ann Butler – Center High School 2009 – Robin Hooper – Timpson Middle School Elzie Suell – F. L. Moffett 2010 - Mila Smith - Excelsior ISD Suzanne Tomlinson - Timpson High School 2011 - Gladys Simon - Timpson Elementary School Gary McCann, Jr - Shelbyville High School 2012 - Tonya Fenton – S.W. Carter Sue Smith – Joaquin High School 2013 – Hannah Ramsey – F.L. Moffett Danielle Smith – Joaquin High School 2014 – April Ramsey – Timpson Elementary School Chris Watlington – Center High School 2015 – Nancy Dickerson – Excelsior ISD Jared Jones – Shelbyville Middle School 2016 – Amber Graves - Joaquin Elementary School Kay Dawson - Timpson High School 2017 - Michelle Covington Richards – F.L. Moffett Primary Adan Ramirez – Center High School 2018 – Lucinda Simmons – Timpson Elementary Teresa Wiist – Tenaha High School 2019 – Beth Nichols – Center Intermediate School Brooke Harrison – Shelbyville High School Pg. 13
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Organized in 1984, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors are the hosts and hostesses for chamber functions, including Ribbon Cuttings, Business After Hours, Ground Breakings, Dedication Ceremonies, Business Anniversary Celebrations and special events. The Ambassadors encourage a mutual feeling of fellowship and support among the county’s local officials, individuals, businesses and industry where ever they are present. The Ambassadors are official hosts for several events and activities. Each spring the Ambassadors host the Annual Teacher Appreciation Reception as well as the First Responders Lunch. The Ambassadors are also hosts for the Junior Chamber of Commerce Program. Martha Rushing served as the first President of the Ambassadors in 1985. She was followed by Jana Fulgham. This year Cindy Lindsey is serving as Committee Chairman of the Ambassadors. Several founding Ambassadors are serving as current Chamber Ambassadors.
2019 Ambassadors Hollie Adams Holiday Nursing & Rehabilitation Charlotte Allen Shelby Savings Bank Michele Askew Shelby Savings Bank Kathy Bailey Shelby Savings Bank Jason Balkcom Farmers State Bank
Kim Bridges Pine Grove Nursing Home Meg Camp Edward Jones Karen Campbell Holiday Nursing & Rehabilitation David Chadwick Farmers State Bank Lorei Choate Shelby Savings Bank Pg. 14
2019 Ambassadors Sharon Crelia Hometown Tackle & Marine
Susan Hairgrove Jordan Health Services
Lawrence Davis Blake Furniture
Ginia Hooper The Light & Champion
Lori Davis Shelby Savings Bank
Cancee Lester Panola College
Brian Dean Farmers State Bank
Cindy Lindsey Sassy Red’s, Inc.
Colleen Doggett East Texas Press
Tee Polley Affinity Hospice
Stephanie Elswick The Light & Champion
Lynda K. Russell Attorney at Law
Cindy Eubank Center Motor Company
Allison Sanford Shoop Financial
J.J. Ford ShelbyCountyToday.com
Barbara Scates Individual
Andi Foster Vieux Carre’ Photography
Camille Stanfield Shelby Savings Bank
Doug Gay Twogether Designs, Inc.
Emily Teske Shoop Financial
Kasey Golden Lynda K. Russell-Attorney
Gabrielle West Hope Community Medicine
Sandra Gray Shelby Savings Bank
Jesse Wiggins Wiggins Farms
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Jon Jimmy
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Frances Oates
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Shelby County Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Young Ambassadors The Shelby County Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Young Ambassadors program was established in 1996 with around 85 students. Today there are over 200 students from public and private schools in Shelby County from grades 8th - 12th who meet the criteria. The purpose of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Program is to develop leadership skills as well as assist the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and the Ambassadors in various projects and opportunities of hospitality and service. Students must maintain an 85.0 or above grade point average and complete a set number of Chamber and community volunteer hours. Students are also required to maintain exemplary conduct and a positive attitude. They reapply each year with service hours, conduct and attitude taken into consideration for membership. First year Junior Chamber of Commerce students are required to have a letter of recommendation from a teacher. To become a Young Ambassador, students must be a Junior or a Senior, have fulfilled all requirements as Junior Chamber of Commerce members and complete additional service hour requirements.
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Leadership Shelby County Leadership Shelby County is a year-long program designed to identify potential leaders and develop within these individuals the knowledge, skills and vision necessary to enable them to actively participate in the enhancement of the quality of life in the communities. Upon graduation, class members are expected to continue their experience to continue their experience by planning the curriculum for the next class. They can also take their skills into the community where they will use them in their professional and personal lives. Leadership graduates may wish to take part in Alumni Committee activities: recruiting or serving as resources for speakers or sponsorships.
Leadership Shelby County Class 2019 Jeremy Bittick Stephanie Cline Stephanie Elswick Natalie Harris Tyler Keese Bridgette Kellar Cindy Lindsey Dan O’Rear Jason Orsak Alison Scull Ashlyn Wiggins
City of Center PD First Baptist Church The Light and Champion City of Tenaha First Baptist Church Shelby Savings Bank Sassy Red’s, Inc. Farmers State Bank Tyson Foods Bounds Insurance Wiggins Farms Pg. 18
Shelby County Chamber Staff Recognition Past and Present We would like to recognize the countless hours that previous executive directors and staff members have committed to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. Their tremendous efforts and dedication to the chamber will always be appreciated.
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orse Kay M
Shelby County Chamber Staff Deborah Chadwick, President Tammie Luman, Administrative Assistant Elena Almaguer, Secretary Pg. 19
Banquet Program Designed & Produced by: