The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce held their 2013 annual awards banquet on Thursday, April 11th at the Brownwood Coliseum. A crowd of about 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.
Dr. Stephen P. Kelly received the night’s highest honor, the Groner Pitts Lifetime of Service Award.
This year’s man of the year award went to Dr. Don Bostic of Ranger College. Woman of the Year was Tammy Robinson. (see full award list below).
The banquet also showcased the “changing of the guard” for the Brownwood Chamber as Chip Camp of Brownwood Regional Medical Center stepped up as chairman of the board, taking over for Eric McNeese.
The 2013 class of Leadership Brownwood was also recognized for the completion of this year’s course.
Groner Pitts “Lifetime of Service” Award—Dr. Stephen Kelly
The Groner Pitts “Lifetime of Service” Award was presented to Dr. Stephen Kelly. Dr. Kelly has served as an officer in the Army Adjutant General Corps before graduating from Dallas Southwestern Medical School. He’s had a private practice in Brownwood since 1960. He has been Chairman of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee as long as anyone can remember. He was named both Man of the Year and Business of the Year in 2000. In 2008, he was named “Mr. Amistad” by the International Good Neighbor Council of Del Rio and Acuna, Mexico for building an eye clinic in that town. Locally, he and his wife Sandi started a foundation which provides scholarships for Brownwood High School Seniors and grants to Brown County youth organizations. He made Admiral in the Texas Navy in 1992. He received the Commander Award for Public Service from the Department of the Army as well as the Tribal Order of the Athapaskan – Army Aviation Award in 2000. Ever-mindful of the American soldier, in recent years, he has purchased hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout cookies for deployed troops.
Last year’s award recipient Patti Jordan presents Dr. Kelly with the award – Pictured at top.
Man of the Year—Dr. Don Bostic
Man of the Year was Dr. Don Bostic who came to Brownwood three years ago as director at the Ranger College campus. He was elected to the Chamber’s board of directors and later served as chairman of the board. Under his leadership, the Chamber established the Annual Total Resource Campaign. He co-chaired the 2013 TRC with Ken Harriss which ended just two weeks ago. He was also instrumental in making the Christmas Under the Stars Festival a success with special focus on the ice skating rink. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and a devoted Gators fan. He played on the Gators’ basketball team for four years while majoring in Criminal Justice, ultimately enjoying 35 years in education administration. Today he enjoys golf and home improvement in his spare time. He and his wife Debra Jo are active in Southside Church and have two grown children.
Pictured above is last year’s man of the year Ken Harriss presenting the award to Dr. Don Bostic.
Woman of the Year—Tammy Robinson
The Woman of the Year is Tammy Robinson. She is involved with activities in nursing homes and assisted living communities doing blood pressure clinics, new resident socials, pizza parties, bingo and spa days. Her list of volunteer activities runs the gamut. She handled entertainment for the Brownwood Reunion Celebration from 2006-2010 and still volunteers annually. She volunteers with Project Graduation and the American Heart Association. Robinson also has chaired the last seven American Cancer Society Relay for Life events. She was instrumental in bringing Big Brothers Big Sisters to Brown County, serving as president for five terms since 2007. The Girl Scouts named her one of their Women of Distinction.
Pictured above is last year’s woman of the year Joyce Leidig presenting the award to Robinson.
Large Business of the Year—Loadcraft Industries, LTD. Pictured is Eric McNeese presenting the award to President Terry McIver of Loadcraft Industries, LTD.
Medium Business of the Year—Weakley-Watson. Mike Blagg of Weakley-Watson is pictured receiving the award from McNeese.
Small Business of the Year—Runaway Train Café. Kim Bruton is pictured accepting the award from McNeese.
Community Partner—Boys and Girls Club. Danny Willingham is pictured accepting the award.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Brown County is to help parents find a positive place for their kids to go after school and during the summer.
They are a unique organization serving children from six to eighteen years of age. Their mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible caring citizens. Since 1995, the vision of the Boys & Girls Club has grown and changed with the needs of our children. As the needs of children and their families change, so do the dynamics of their programs and service.
Professional of the Year—Judge Steve Ellis. McNeese is shown presenting the award to Judge Ellis.
Judge Steve Ellis was born in New Mexico, and after moving to Texas, he attended Baylor University where he received a B. A. in history and his law degree. After graduation, he and his wife identified Brownwood as a good place to work and raise a family.
He has practiced law for more than 20 years during which he helped create Brown County Crime Stoppers. He implemented programs at the Family Services Center and a judicially supervised treatment and case management for substance abuse offenders. He helped form “CASA in the Heart of Texas” and was selected by Texas CASA as its “Lone Star Proud for Kids Judge of the Year” in 2002.
Additionally, he has been involved in the community through Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, HPU Board of Trustees and Boy Scouts of America. He is a deacon of First Baptist Church of Brownwood where he taught Sunday school classes for more than 34 years.
Volunteer of the Year—Mette Lundsgaard. McNeese is shown presenting the award to Lundsgaard.
The volunteer of the year has been involved with HOPE Home Ministry serving as a math tutor and taught young women how to drive.
She is involved with United Way of Brown County and started the first annual “United Way Garage Sale” at her company last year and recently led a “Pie Toss at Plant Management” during a company picnic. In total she has raised more than $73,000 for the community.
She is also a volunteer with Christian Women’s Job Corps teaching life skills, math and interpersonal skills. Earlier this year, she purchased a house on Coggin Avenue which she donated to the organization for their new offices, training and client store.
Good Neighbor award presented to Clay Riley.
Good Neighbor award presented to Leslie Courington.
Good Neighbor award presented to VFW Post #3278 accepted by Keith King and Stephanie Reed.
Good Neighbor award presented to Steve Blake.
Good Neighbor award presented to Kim Peterson.
Good Neighbor award presented to Tim Espinoza.
Ambassador of the Year – Daniel Hutson. Past Ambassador President Ray Garza is shown presenting the award to Hutson.
