PELL CITY — When Lisa Baggett spoke of the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year nominees, she kept the audience in suspense as long as she could before announcing the winner.“We don’t have a Citizen of the Year,” Baggett teased. “We have two.”
Jackie Robinson and Pam Adamson officially share the honors as the 2008 Citizen of the Year.
“I’m speechless right now,” Robinson said shortly after the announcement. “I’m just overwhelmed.”
Baggett said more than 100 chamber members voted in this year’s contest between two women lauded for their community activism and volunteer work, yet the tally was knotted at the end of the day.
“Being nominated with her was an honor,” Adamson said. “Winning with her was a big honor.”
The two women honored at the Second Annual Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce Celebration Luncheon, were not the only ones recognized Thursday. The Businesses and Industries of the Year were also announced.
Eddie Gilreath with Gilreath Printing was all smiles Thursday, after being nominated numerous times for chamber awards but falling short of the mark. Not this time.
Gilreath Printing won the Small Business of the Year award against one of the largest groups of contestants. Other businesses nominated for the award were Aliant Bank, Griffin’s Jewelers, Pell City Chiropractic and Sammie’s Touch & Go.
“I don’t know how many times we’ve been nominated,” Gilreath said, proudly holding Gilreath Printing’s Small Business of the Year award. “We were surprised.”
The local printing company has contributed services and materials to many local organizations, including the Pell City Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, local schools, Pell City High School band, the Pell City Center and Lakeside Hospice.
In the Medium Size Business category, Lakeside Hospice took top honors.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Beth Green, executive director of Lakeside Hospice. “I want to give a special thank you to the community. Without the support of the community, we would not be able to provide care to the poor and needy.”
Lakeside Hospice, a local non-profit organization, provides hospice services to the poor and needy. It provided more than $35,000 in indigent care expenses last year.
Jefferson State Community College was this year’s winner of the Large Business of the Year award.
“We’re thankful to receive this award,” said Danielle Coburn, director of instruction site for the Pell City and Moody Jefferson State Community College campuses.
Coburn said Jefferson State tries to be a part of the community it serves and believes the award shows the college is trying to do its part in Pell City.
Jefferson State provides an accessible and affordable college education to local students, she said.
Johnny’s Electric Inc. captured Small Industry of the Year honors.
Alabama Power Company was voted by chamber members as the winner of the Large Industry of the Year.
Tommy Bowers, manager for the APC office in Pell City, credited the award to the employees who work and live in and around Pell City.
He said APC has 27 employees in its Pell City office and another 100 employees who live in the Pell City, Riverside and Cropwell areas who are involved in the community.
“We work for a company that encourages us to be involved in the community, and they will also support us in that involvement,” Bowers said, adding that APC has awarded close to $10 million in grants to non-profit organizations across the state in the past year.
The local APC workers are involved in almost every club, organization, event and activity that takes place in Pell City.
Bowers was also this year’s recipient of the Energizer Bunny Award.
The pink bunny ears were placed on his head at the luncheon.
“If your power goes off, I will hop to it and get it back on,” Bowers joked.
All nominees were officially recognized at the luncheon and received special framed certificates.
Those businesses and industries nominated in this year’s contest, which were recognized, included the Small Business of the Year nominees mentioned above; Medium Business of the Year nominees Jack’s Hamburgers, Rumor’s Deli and Vizible Changes; Large Business of the Year nominees Cracker Barrel and Food World; Small Industry of the Year nominees SNS Storage and VST Keller; and Large Industry of the Year nominees CenturyTel and WKW Erbsloeh North America.
“Everyone who is here made Pell City what it is today,” said Pat Wriggly, chamber president.
At Thursday’s program, the Pell City High School Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors, while Mayor Adam Stocks led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ginger McCurry sang the national anthem, and Councilman J.T. Carter led the group in prayer before lunch was served.
