The winners of the annual Leadership DeKalb Alumni awards were honored Tuesday night during the Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
Laura Stone received the Community Leader of the Year Award and Judy Sandlin was presented the Legacy Award.
The Community Leader of the Year award goes to someone who has made a significant and positive impact on the county, specifically during 2009 and in a capacity beyond commitment to his or her profession. Stone was recognized for her work in founding the non-profit DeKalb County Angel Tree Incorporated which provides gifts for hundreds of disadvantaged children in DeKalb County. Stone also serves as board member for Habitat for Humanity and is a Class of 2005 Leadership DeKalb graduate. She has been an active committee member of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life since 2005 and is an active volunteer for many other worthwhile causes and events including the Edgar Evins State Park History Hayride, the Nashville Rescue Mission and the Hope Center, serving meals to indigents and the homeless of Nashville.
Patricia Zornow was also nominated for the award.
The Legacy Award goes to the person who has made a significant and positive impact on DeKalb County over a considerable period of time and in multiple or lasting ways. Sandlin was honored for the countless dinners she has prepared and served to people associated with the DeKalb County Fair, Alexandria Senior Center, and Leadership DeKalb, among others. Sandlin was also noted for her work with the DeKalb County Fair Board, the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, the Alexandria Lions Club, and the Senior Center. Her recipes are legendary but her legacy is her selfless nature in demonstrating true leadership and hard work.
The other nominee for the award was Sue N. Puckett-Jernigan.
The guest speaker was Watson Brown, head football coach of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
Click here for Coach Watson Brown’s entire remarks
The retiring members of the Chamber board are Gina Denman of Denny Lamp; Elmer Ellis, Jr. first district county commissioner; Kelly Garrett of Swallows-Garrett Insurance Agency; Charlie Parker of Smithville Builders Supply; and Chris Griffith of DeKalb Farm Bureau.
New members are Tom Miller of Liberty State Bank; Keith Blair, Attorney-at-Law, George Oliver of the Smithville Rotary Club; Jason Ray, Leadership Alumni from the Class of 2009; Mike Williams of the DeKalb County Fair Board and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department; Janna Gillard of the DeKalb County Guide; and Angie Meadows of the Smithville Review.
Other members of the Chamber Board are Robin Driver of Center Hill Realty; Tim Hintz of Off the Beaten Path; Valerie Laprad of the Middle Tennessee Times; Judy Sandlin of the DeKalb County Fair Board; Rob Willingham of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; Les Greer of DTC Communications; Michelle Burklow of the DeKalb County Board of Education; and Kathie McGlamery of the Appalachian Center for Crafts.
The 2010 officers are President Tim Hintz, Vice President Les Greer, Secretary Valerie Laprad, Treasurer Kathie McGlamery, and Past President Robin Driver.
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