200 gather for Chamber banquet

By Carrie A. Mizell

Rain or shine, Kathy Weaver makes sure that every student at Bell Elementary School knows they’re special. On Thursday, Jan. 19 the school guidance counselor was stunned to learn just how special the community thinks she is.
If being named the 2011 Citizen of the Year is any indication, Weaver is one popular lady.
“She has touched so many lives,” said Christie McElroy, who presented Weaver with the Citizen of the Year Award. “Mother Theresa said, ‘Intense love does not measure; it gives.’ The recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award exemplifies this quote daily to everyone she encounters.”
Weaver and her husband, Marvin Weaver moved their young family to Gilchrist County in 1979 when Marvin was hired as county extension agent.

Christie McElroy introduced Kathy Weaver, the 2011 Gilchrist County Citizen of the Year.

Weaver was a stay at home raising their two children Laura and Ryan. A love for children prompted her to go back to school where she graduated from the University of Florida with a Masters in Elementary Education as the valedictorian of her entire class.
“I was told this was before UF designated valedictorians for each college,” McElroy said.
After several years of teaching, she aspired to work with children in another way, as a guidance counselor. So, she went back to school to accomplish this goal, where again, nothing but an A would do.
“She gives of her time, self and money,” McElroy said. “If a child needs shoes, she buys them. If a child needs food, she gets it for them. If a child needs a hug, she gives it. She helps ALL children. The love she gives can’t be measured.”

Carrie Mizell presented the J. Min Ayers Lifetime Achievement Award to her late
grandfather’s dear friend D. Ray Harrison, Jr.

Weaver was not the only Alachua native startled to receive an award at the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet. D. Ray Harrison, Jr. was shocked when his name was called as the 2011 recipient of the J. Min Ayers Lifetime Achievement Award. As a member of the board of directors for the Chamber, Harrison thought he knew all the award recipients, only to find out that he had been lied to.
In presenting the award, Carrie Mizell talked about the close friendship her grandfather J. Min Ayers and Harrison shared.
“As a child, I can remember seeing him sitting across the newspaper desk from my grandfather and listening as the two friends talked about everything from local politics to Gator football,” Mizell said. “To this day, he comes in the Journal on a regular basis just to rob our candy drawer.”
Harrison helped organize the Gilchrist County Education Foundation and served as its president for 10 years. He is also a member of the Trenton Rotary Club and currently serves as chairman of the board for Haven Hospice.
Harrison could be the most successful politician in Gilchrist County’s history having never lost an election. Harrison served as Gilchrist County Property Appraiser for 40 years and currently serves as a Gilchrist County Commissioner.

Norm Conti, left, received the Volunteer of the Year award during the banquet.
He is shown with Nancy Padgett.

Fellow Gilchrist County Commissioner Randy Durden stepped up to the podium to present the 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award to Norm Conti.
A perfect example of what a volunteer truly is, Conti is an energetic voice for all senior citizens in the county. He is involved with AARP, the Trenton Senior Center, the Senior Citizens Food Pantry and was instrumental in getting the monthly senior citizen bus trip to Wal-Mart started.
“It’s 27 people gossiping non stop for eight hours!” Durden said of the monthly bus trips to Chiefland.
Conti, who has been known to wear outlandish costumes in public, graciously accepted the award saying, “Glory to the Lord! It is very rewarding to be a volunteer when a 93-year-old lady at the senior center puts her arm around my neck and says thank you…that makes it all worthwhile.”
Natalie Rankin presented the 2011 Civic Organization of the Year Award to Gilchrist County 4-H. A past member, who now has children actively involved in 4-H, Rankin spoke from the heart when she said, “It’s not all cows and cooking!”
Rankin talked about the valuable lessons children learn through 4-H, from raising an animal for the fair to learning to bake a cake from scratch.
While accepting the award, 4-H Agent Chris DeCubellis thanked the parents of Gilchrist County for trusting him with their most precious resource, their children.
Michael McElroy presented Capital City Bank in Bell with the Business of the Year Award.
“Clients in Bell are treated with hometown kindness and top notch service,” McElroy said. “If you attend any local event you will see these ladies out and about visiting clients and making contacts. Their warm and friendly style of banking keeps their balance sheet growing, as well as the admiration of their clients.”
In 1992 Capital City Bank built a branch office in Bell to better serve residents living in north Gilchrist County. At the time there were just three employees. Twenty years later, the bank now has a staff of five employees and in 2009 underwent a renovation and expansion.
Lancaster Correctional Institute was awarded the 2011 Outstanding Community Service Award. Presenter Julie Thomas thanked the officers and inmates at Lancaster for working to make events like the Education Foundation’s Wild Beast Feast and the Chamber’s Christmas on Main Street possible.
The evening ended with local attorney Sheree Lancaster winning the horse race drawing, which came with a number of prizes including a two night stay in Cedar Key.