The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce recognized Mary Vorheis with the 2018 Saints’ Roost Award for her lifetime of service and commitment to the community during the annual Chamber Awards Banquet last Thursday, February 7.
Man of the Year honors went to Jeff McKee, and Sherol Johnston was named the Woman of the Year. J&W Lumber & Supply was named the Business of the Year.
The Saints’ Roost Award is the highest honor given annually by the Chamber to recognize a lifetime of volunteering and community service. Vorheis was recognized for her extensive work with the VFW Auxiliary and all the activities they do for the community from helping with Veterans and Memorial Day activities to preparing soup for the Courthouse Lighting evening. She also prepares food for people on Sunday who are on Meals on Wheels during the week but have no food for the weekend. She helps with Alzheimer’s fundraisers, is involved with the Friends of the Library, and serves wherever she can even when she is not feeling good.
The Man of the Year for 2018 is Jeff McKee, for serving our community in several capacities. As an employee of the city of Clarendon, he takes pride in his work and is always happy to help local citizens. He serves on the Saints’ Roost Museum board and helps with the lighting of the Donley County Courthouse. He’s played the role of Santa Claus for local events and helped with the Mulkey Block Party, the Channel Ten Summer Celebration, and other activities. Anytime there is an event in Clarendon, you can count on him being there to support what’s happening and most of the time he’s lending a helping hand while he is there.
Sherol Johnston is the Woman of the Year for 2018. She has been very involved in Howardwick, Clarendon and Donley County. As a former member of the Clarendon EDC she helped develop the Mulkey project in its early stages. She has twice brought the Lone Start Ladies’ Golf Tournament to the Clarendon Country Club, where she serves as the club’s secretary/treasurer. She volunteers regularly with the Bread of Life Food Ministry at the Methodist Church, and as a board member of the Donley County Community Fund, she represents Howardwick and has been active in helping build an endowment that will benefit current and future non-profit groups throughout Donley County.
The Chamber of Commerce named J&W Lumber & Supply as its Business of the Year. John Jones and Bill Williams started the business in 1960. Buddy Ford bought the business in 1973; and in about 1977, Rudene and Bill “Peanut” Wise purchased the business after running Peanut’s Drive-in for several years. In 1983, the business moved to its present location and the Wise’s daughter Julie and husband Earl Hartman joined the firm. Bill and Rudene retired in 1998, and Earl became the go-to man for advice in town about home improvement projects. Throughout the years, Earl served with the Downtown Merchants Association and Julie volunteered as a Scout leader. The Hartmans have a reputation for supporting worthwhile projects and for sound guidance when it comes to fixing almost anything.
The Chamber and Clarendon College also recognized outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley.
Brandalyn Ellis was named the Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon. She is president of 4-H and participates in contests at the state level for horse judging. She’s an officer of the Clarendon FFA and has helped at the vet clinic as a veterinarian assistant. She’s trained horses, assisted riding instructors, and worked cows and calves in the family herd. She has participated in the Texas High School Rodeo Association, is the president of the Student Council, is captain of the basketball team, and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She gives back to her community by helping the Christ Kids Ministry summer food program. She is a Sweetheart of the Clarendon Lions Club and has received numerous awards in 4H and for rodeo contests.
The Young Man of the Year from Clarendon is Noab Elam, who been involved in many extracurricular activities and represented his school and community well. He participates in baseball, football, and basketball and has received all-district honors in all of those sports. He is in the running for valedictorian of his senior class and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has participated in UIL academics and has advanced to state in two of the last three years. He was the regional UIL Social Studies Champion last spring and has been listed on Clarendon College’s Dean’s List while completing dual credit classes. He will likely graduate high school with 39 or more college hours. He has been a class officer every year and class president the last two years, and he was a captain of his football team. He’s received district and state honors in baseball. He also writes for The Clarendon Enterprise.
The Young Man of the Year from Hedley is Chris Gonzales, and he played basketball, served as a manager for the Owl football team and been active for four years in FFA. He enjoys shooting guns, fishing, working, and spending time with family. He’s exhibited animals at the county stock show and participated in community service projects for the Rowe Cemetery and the Hedley Lions Club. He has received awards for the Star Greenhand, Star Chapter Farmer, and Outstanding Senior FFA member
Kasie Hinton is the Young Woman of the Year from Hedley. She has participated in basketball and FFA for four years and also has run cross country and track. She’s been a member of NHS for two years and been the Star Chapter Farmer, Star State Degree, and Star Greenhand in FFA. She won Grand Champion heifer at the county stock show and the Grand Champion of the junior show and Grand and Reserve Champion Braunvieh heifer in the open show at the National Western Livestock Show. She won Grand in the youth show, and Grand and Reserve Champion in the Open Show at Ft. Worth. She is a member of the honors program at Clarendon College.
This year’s Chamber banquet followed a “Showtime! Clarendon’s Night at the Movies” theme and was catered by Great Western Dining. Approximately 200 people attended the event, which was held in the Bairfield Activity Center.
Lyndy Phillips was the featured entertainment for the evening and used magic and humor to deliver his message to laugh more and stress less. Phillips had the audience laughing throughout his presentation with the help and good sportsmanship of Cassidy Riza and Mayor Sandy Skelton.
Gift Box pull winners were Kay Dye, Tommy Waldrop, Kim Fowler, Elaina Estlack, and Kim Cooper.
Tables were sponsored by A Fine Feathered Nest, the City of Clarendon, Clarendon College, The Clarendon Enterprise, the Donley County Senior Citizens, Herring Bank, Phelps Plumbing, Pilgrim Bank, Saints’ Roost Museum, and Shelton & Shelton Law Offices. Phillips selected the Enterprise table’s Star Trek as having the best table decoration reflecting the banquet’s movie theme. He also named Chamber Manager Bob Weiss and Jolene Weiss as having the best costumes as the Blues Brothers.
This year’s corporate sponsors were Broken Road Junior, The Clarendon Enterprise, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, Greenbelt Electric Coop., GreenLight Gas, and Pioneer General Contractors.
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