Words spoken by Harry Hoe as he lead Ed Bowling, widower of Pat Welch-Bowling, to the front of a packed room to receive the Volunteer/Humanitarian Award. This particular award was one of many distributed at the Bell County Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Friday.
Pine Mountain State Park Resort set the scene for an evening full of joy, remembrance and social time.
Welch-Bowling tragically passed away from cancer a short time ago. Chamber director Nioma Lawson said she felt giving her the award for the second consecutive year was the right thing to do.
"Her service to the community was extraordinary," said Lawson.
Welch-Bowling gave a lifetime of work to her community. After serving a military career as a nurse, she retired to her hometown of Middlesboro where she became a coordinator for education at the Appalachian Regional Hospital. She dedicated over 19 years of service before retiring at ARH.
She was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Middlesboro, where she also served as deacon and a Sunday school teacher. She was the executive director of the Cumberland Trails United Way and an active member in the Bell County Chamber of Commerce, Middlesboro Tourism Commission, Downtown Association, the Main Street program, Kentucky Homeland Security, Middlesboro Kiwanis Club, the Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival, the Middlesboro Garden Club and the Middlesboro Business and Professional Woman's Club.
She had also been elected to a fourth term on the Middlesboro city council and served on the advisory boards of the Salvation Army and the Bell County boys group home.
The Historical Preservation Award went to Mike Bowling for his work along side Pat in the restoration of the American Association Building.
Standing as the oldest building in Middlesboro, Lawson called it "the essence of Middlesboro," adding that it was the determination and love for the town's landmark that inspired Pat to enlist the help of Bowling.
In 1990, he was recruited to help with the process of restoring the building and by 1994, the project had obtained it's first grant. A bitter halt came about when a 1997 fire heavily damaged the building but the restoration efforts were not deterred.
The final grant was received in 2001 and the official grand opening was held in October 2004.
Upon his acceptance of the award, Mike only had one thing to say.
"This is for Pat."
Bell County Judge Executive Bill Kelley accepted honors for the Community Appearance and Beautification Award on behalf of the Fiscal Court for work done on the Courthouse in Pineville.
"I'm sure you all will agree that a city's appearance has a direct effect on how the town will be perceived by the thousands of people who will visit each year," said Lawson.
A very enthusiastic Nick Siler accepted the Community Development Award on behalf of the Bell Theatre. Lawson said that it was no big secret that large strides have been taken in downtown Pineville to make it look more attractive, adding not only for the businesses but for the residents as well.
Built in the 1930s, the Theatre has played many important rolls as a public venire. Most notably on the education of young kids in the community that may be at risk.
Siler added that one of the students in the program had even been accepted into Harvard University.
The Leadership Award went to David Cook for this dedication to bring industry in the area. In recent years, he has been successful in starting two industrial parks that will soon be home industry in Bell County. He has served as past president of the Industrial Foundation for several years and as Lawson put it, "has the vision and leadership it takes and is a very dedicated person."
"Community action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope improves communities and makes America a better place to live," said Lawson. "What more would need to be said about tonight's recipient for outstanding contribution."
With programs such as early Head-start, Pride, Repair Affair and Winter Care, Bell Whitely Community Action agency nailed the award for Outstanding Contribution.
Bell-Whitely is one of more than 1,000 of it's kind in America. Organized in 1968l, it utilizes all resources available to help others become self-sufficient.
"Bell-Whitely believes that there are untapped resources in the community and that each person has something to give," said Lawson. "By working together, poverty can be replaced with opportunity and despair with hope."
Only a few years ago, Larry Grandey was a Sears store manager who believed there was a need for a tele-communications company in Kentucky and Tennessee. Making a significant contribution to the economy of the community, he was chosen as the recipient of the Business Appreciation Award.
Lawson added that Grandey operates a "true, successful, family business in Middlesboro."
The Cumberland Gap National Park was awarded the Culture Development Award for realizing a dream and making it come true. Since it was first established in the 1940's as a way to preserve history, the park's goal has always been to remove the old highway and restore the Wilderness Road Trail to what it once was when Daniel Boone blazed a trail to the west.
Park superintendent Mark Woods excepted the award. Asphalt has given away to grass and the traffic is now gone -- a piece of history re-grained.
Other awards that were given out included those for retiring board members - Pat Bingham and Chuck Bishop. Dempsey Miracle was recognized for his presidency of the chamber last year.
Lawson also reported that in the past year, the chamber had gained 20 new members, held 21 new ribbon cuttings, completed their fifth year of Leadership Bell County and has held their third annual Golf Scramble.
The feautered speaker for the dinner was Bill Landry, host and narrator of WBIR TV's, 'The Heartland Series."
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