Nearly 200 people gathered Saturday night at Altavista Elementary School for the Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and dinner.
The evening included the introduction of new members of the chamber’s Board of Directors, a look ahead at 2013, words and songs from guest speaker LaDonna Gatlin and the presentation of several awards, including awards for the Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Outstanding Teacher of the Year and special recognition awards for two retiring public servants.
Outstanding Citizen of the Year
Steve Farmer, owner of Steve Farmer Auto Sales and the 2013 chair of the chamber’s Board of Directors, won the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.
Mark Thomas, editor and general manager of the Altavista Journal and new member of the chamber board, made the presentation.
Thomas said the criteria for the award is that the person selected be well rounded and have an active and aggressive interest in the community and its improvement.
“Without any question, tonight’s winner exceeds those requirements,” said Thomas.
He said Farmer was born in Altavista and grew up in Pittsylvania County. He graduated from Renan High School and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, where he earned a commendation medal for heroism for moving through enemy fire to assist wounded comrades.
He returned to the Grit area and went to work and listened to Elvis music, Thomas said.
Thomas said Farmer had been very active in the community. He served for years on the Altavista Life Saving Crew, headed up the Parent-Teacher Association at Hurt Elementary School and led the Colonel Club.
He taught and directed the choir at Hurt Pentecostal Holiness Church. He and wife Sandra now attend St. John Pentecostal Holiness, where he is involved in children’s worship.
Thomas said Farmer had provided financial support, cooked meals and coached youth sports teams, including YMCA youth baseball and soccer.
Farmer is an active member of the Altavista Rotary Club. Along with other club activities, he helped get furnishings for Frannie’s House and played a leading role in doubling the club’s membership.
He received the Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow honor for his support of the organization. He also won the Rotary’s 110 percent district award, which goes to a member who has demonstrated service above self in the club and local community.
Farmer has also been involved for more than 20 years in the annual Easter Egg Hunt for the Challenged.
Thomas said he first met Farmer and his wife when they were volunteers for Relay For Life in Lynchburg. When Relay moved to Altavista, Farmer increased his commitment to the event. Thomas said Farmer has led the event, provided sponsorship, raised money, organized the children’s activities and set up and taken down numerous tents.
Thomas said Farmer was also an active member of the Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce.
After listing his many accomplishments, Thomas said, “And this isn’t any retirement award for our winner. He’s still very much involved, out of his love for the community.”
Joining Farmer as he accepted the award were his wife; his son, Steven Farmer Jr. and wife Samantha; his daughter, Andrea Thompson; and his grandchildren, Steven Farmer III, Jack Thompson, Anna Thompson, Ross Farmer and Coleman Farmer.
His son-in-law, Dave Thompson, and grandson, Luke Thompson, were unable to attend.
“I don’t do what I do to be recognized,” Farmer said.
He said the Lord had given him strength, and with that, he wanted to help others if he could.
“I don’t have words,” he said. “This will be one of my treasures that I’ll keep for a long time.”
Business of the Year
The Altavista Journal won the chamber’s Business of the Year Award.
Founded in 1909, the Altavista Journal is a community newspaper and is part of Womack Publishing Co. in Chatham.
Eric Fletcher, a State Farm Insurance agent and member of the chamber’s board, made the presentation of the award.
Fletcher said he enjoyed being able to see what was happening in the area with the children and families. He called the Journal a “newspaper that allows us to see what’s going on with the people in our community.”
The newspaper was also a great business partner in the community, he said.
In accepting the award, Thomas thanked the chamber and said, “This is quite an honor for us, one that we are excited and proud to win.”
No one person could take credit for the award, Thomas said.
“This is a total team effort of a talented and hardworking staff,” he said.
The Journal has covered local news for almost as long as there had been an Altavista, Thomas said, and has been a resource for businesses to promote their products and services.
“That focus on the local community was a hallmark of the Edwards family, who operated the Journal for some 70 years. It has continued since Womack Publishing, led by Zan Womack, bought the newspaper in 1990. ‘We’re all local, all the time,’ Mr. Womack has often said,” Thomas said.
He ended his remarks by saying, “Our pledge to you is to follow our mission printed on page four of each week’s edition, ‘to be a written and visual record of what makes our community special.’”
Outstanding Teacher
Kimberly Schultz won the Outstanding Teacher Award.
Schultz, a fifth-grade teacher at Altavista Elementary School, has been teaching for 18 years, 12 years at Altavista. She is a graduate of Glassboro State College, now Rowman University, with a degree in elementary education.
In making the presentation, Altavista Area Chamber President Patty Eller called teaching one of the most important vocations. The chamber was fortunate to be able to offer the winner of the award generous gifts through its foundation.
New this year was a voucher for $600 to be applied to an advanced education class at Lynchburg College.
Schultz was one of five nominees for the teacher award. Other candidates were Rebecca Mulwee of Central Virginia Community College, Tracy Fox of Faith Christian Academy, Robert Shipp of Altavista Combined School and Chrystal Hutcherson of Hurt Elementary School.
Special Recognition
Linda Rodriguez, director of the CVCC Altavista Center and secretary of the chamber board, made the presentation of Special Recognition Awards to former Altavista Mayor J.R. (Rudy) Burgess and former Altavista Town Councilman Ron Coleman.
Rodriguez said Burgess had dedicated his life to the town and had spent much of his time on making the town a better place to live.
Burgess served on Altavista Town Council from 1972 until December. He served as mayor from 1988 until December. He did not run for re-election in November.
Rodriguez said Coleman had served for many years alongside of Burgess and his services to Altavista were appreciated.
Coleman served on council for 16 years. He also did not run for re-election last November.
Neither Burgess nor Coleman were able to attend the dinner. Burgess’ wife, Lucy Burgess, and his daughter, Jane Hudgins, accepted his award for him.
Hudgins thanked the chamber and said, “His life has been Altavista.”