Community leaders were recognized and fiscal year 2012 strategies and goals were revealed last week at the Conway Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration in the Historic Peanut Warehouse in downtown Conway.
Tom Brown, president of the Conway Chamber of Commerce, served as Master of Ceremonies and presented four awards on the Chamber’s behalf. The Chamber’s Public Awareness Award was presented to Ralph McCloud and Carolina Video Group; its Community Service Award was presented to Agape Senior; the Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Kris Dawes of Vista Bank; and George Bullock of The Cypress Inn was named Outstanding Board Member of the Year.
Outstanding citizens were also recognized with the following awards:
Gary Gilmore, head baseball coach for Coastal Carolina University, was named Conway’s Youth Leader of the Year. This award is presented to an individual who has made a positive and considerable impact on the advancement of our community’s youth.
• The Sun News Rod & Harold McCown service awards were presented to one woman and one man for their dedication and service to the Conway community. Dana Groome of Peoples Underwriters was named Woman of the Year, and Bruce Young, owner of The Freeze Restaurant, was named Man of the Year.
• The LaVerne H. Creel Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to individuals, who have devoted heart and soul to the betterment of the Conway area, was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Derrick. Through an endowment created by Peter and Betsy Barr in memory of Frank Thompson, the Derricks will be given the opportunity to present a not-for-profit charity of choice with a $1,000 donation and the distinction of the Frank A. Thompson II Citizenship Award. The donation will be administered through the Waccamaw Community Foundation.
• The Rotary Club of Conway also presented the Small Businessperson of the Year Award to Russell Graham of Graham Golf Cars.
