A large crowd attending the annual
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Banquet at Pecan Creek Inn Monday night
enthusiastically greeted the announcement that Ann Alexander has
been selected as Hamilton's Outstanding Citizen for 1993.
Last Year's winner of the Outstanding
Citizens Award, Ollie Zschiesche, made the announcement of Alexander's
selection and praised the longtime Hamilton resident for her tireless
efforts as a volunteer worker and officer of numerous civic and
charitable organizations, her devotion to and work on behalf of her
church, and her generosity in financial support of many local
institutions and fund-raising efforts.
A graduate of Hamilton High School and
a trained nurse, she has been instrumental in the growth of one of
Hamilton's largest employers, Alexander Moulding Mill.
Among the projects and groups she has
been actively involved with over the years are the Hamilton Public
Library, Hamilton General Hospital, United Care, Hamilton
Genealogical Society, the annual Goodfellows Fund Drive and many more.
She currently serves as chaplain of the Ann Whitney Chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution. She is an active member of the
First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton.
The night's second major award was
presented to the father and son team of Murlin and Charlie Bottlinger
as Agri-businessmen of the Year. Owners and operators of Bottlinger
Grain Company in Hamilton, the Bottlingers have built the business
into one of Hamilton strongest, employing more than 25 workers and
operating 16 trucks in grain transit.
The award to the Bottlingers was
presented by a former winner of the award, Joel Sellers.
Outgoing Chamber President Tommy McKay
also presented a pair of special awards to the HBAT organization for
its work in promoting baseball in the community, including major
physical improvements to the ball field at Fair Park, and to Jim
Taylor for his involvement and leadership in the historical lighting
project in the commercial sector of town. Taylor has installed the new
fixtures almost single-handedly over a period of months.
Chuck Martin of Radio Station KCLW
served as Master of Ceremonies for the event and the crowd enjoyed a
meal prepared by Pecan Creek Inn featuring pepper steak and peach
cobbler.
The featured speaker was Dr. Jerry
DeHay, Dean of the College of Business at Tarleton State University in
Stephenville and a business consultant, who delivered an entertaining
and motivational address emphasizing the importance of setting and
achieving goals in personal and business endeavors.
U. S. Congressman Chet Edwards also
delivered a brief message to the crowd.
One of the main functions of the annual
banquet is to install new officers and directors for the Chamber.
Officers for the new year will be Pam
Gammage, president; Michael Graham, vice president; and Larry Tatum,
treasurer.
New directors will be Pattye Ward, Dane
Marwitz and Michael Graham. They will join hold-over board members
Tommy McKay, Marge Jordan, Richard Neie, and Gene Robertson, and the
three officers
Shared by Roy
Ables
