The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards banquet on Tuesday, April 10th at the Brownwood Coliseum. A crowd of 400 were on hand to see this year’s award recipients for man and woman of the year, the lifetime of service award as well as many other recognitions.
Longtime resident and community volunteer Patti Jordan received the night’s highest honor, the Groner Pitts Lifetime of Service Award.
This year’s man of the year award went to Ken Harriss of Oncor. Woman of the Year was Joyce Leidig. (see full award list below).
The banquet also showcased the “changing of the guard” for the Brownwood Chamber as Eric McNeese steps up as chairman of the board, taking over for Dr. Don Bostic.
The 2012 class of Leadership Brownwood was also recognized for the completion of this year’s course.
Groner Pitts “Lifetime of Service” Award—Patti Jordan
The Groner Pitts “Lifetime of Service” Award was presented to Patti Jordan, a native of Brownwood. Jordan is known for her generousity, 28 years as a teacher, and her passion of history and dedication to historic preservation.
She has written Service Learning Grants and represented Brownwood ISD in Washington, DC when Woodland Heights was designated a “Blue Ribbon School.” Jordan was published in Ancestry magazine for her classes’ participation develop the “Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Brownwood” and oral histories of their grandparents and neighbors.
Jordan and her husband, Tom, began the Learning Fitness Center to help children and adults achieve their academic and career goals. She and Tom have three children: Janey, Julie and Brian and grandchildren to whom they are devoted. Pictured at top is last year’s Groner Pitts recipient Leonard Underwood presenting the award to Jordan.
Man of the Year—Ken Harriss
Ken Harriss, a great volunteer and community leader, was awareded the Man of the Year award.
He is a lifelong resident of Brownwood, born in Brownwood, a graduate of Brownwood High School, Howard Payne Univeristy and Angelo State University, has a business management degree. He met and married his college sweetheart and moved to Brownwood in 1978. They have two daughters and two granddaughters.
He is a long-time member of the Brownwood Rotary Club, a former Rotary Club President, and has volunteered and supported the various projects sponsored by that organization such as Flag Program, Dictionaries for Third Graders Program and youth scholarships. He serves on the Staff-Parish Relations Committee at the First United Methodist Church of Brownwood. He was a 2011 graduate of Leadership Brownwood and is currently participating in the Leadership Stephenville program. Harriss recently completed a term on the Chamber’s Board of Directors where he co-captained the top-performing team in the 2011 TRC Campaign. During the Chamber’s Christmas Under The Stars event, he worked tirelessly coordinating logistics and working with the staff and volunteers. Pictured above is last year’s man of the year Bob Shipley presenting the award to Harriss.
Woman of the Year—Joyce Leidig
Joyce Leidig was named this year’s Woman of the Year and is a prior recipient of many other awards including the Chamber’s 2011 Brownwood Good Neighbor award, named a “Woman of Distinction” by the Central Texas Council of Girl Scouts, honored as the Grand Marshall of the 2011 Reunion Celebration.
She is a retired staff member of the Texas Department of Human Services, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, Brown County Republican Women, VFW Post 3278 Ladies Auxiliary and Board Member for the Hardin Museum. But she is best known for her tireless dedication to the Military and Family Support Group. Through that organization Leidig has helped maintain the Wall of Heroes at the Brown County Courthouse, and coordinates the annual Community Christmas Candlelight Service visits veterans in nursing homes, presents certificates to high school graduates enlisting in the military and collects cards of support and “goodies” for active military personnel.
For her commitment to the military, this mother of an Iraq War Veteran received the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service in 2006. She started and has spearheaded the collection and mailing of gift boxes each year so that some 200 troops serving far from home will receive Christmas goodies. Pictured above is last year’s woman of the year Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld presenting the award to Leidig.
Large Business of the Year—Superior Essex. Pictured are Dr. Don Bostic presenting the award to Larry Jones of Superior Essex.
Medium Business of the Year—Dr Pepper Bottling Company. Charles Lockwood of Dr. Pepper Bottlers is pictured receiving the award from Dr. Bostic.
Small Business of the Year—Brownwood Insurance Specialists. Bill King and Rick Martin are pictured accepting the award from Dr. Bostic.
Professional of the Year—Dr. Carol Boren. Dr. Don Bostic is shown presenting the award to Dr. Boren.
Volunteer of the Year—Edda Ratliff. Dr. Don Bostic is shown presenting the award to Ratliff.
Community Partner—Good Samaritan Ministries. Angela Bostick is pictured accepting the award.
Ambassador of the Year – Daniel Hutson. Ambassador President Ray Garza is shown presenting the award to Hutson.
Good Neighbor award presented to Toni Hill of McCoys.
Good Neighbor award presented to Nelson Turnbow
Good Neighbor award presented to Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston
Good Neighbor award presented to Lt. Shannon Stone of the Brownwood Fire Department. Pictured accepting the award is Jenny Stone.
