
Three “Of the Year” awards given at 2022 Chamber Annual meeting
Cherryville’s Business; Chamber Member; and Citizen of the Year honored at May 12 gala
by MICHAEL E. POWELL
Editor
michael@cfmedia.info
The night of Thursday, May 12, 2022 annual gala and banquet was a great night for those members of the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce who are not just members of our community at large but are businesses and citizens that provide so many great services and love to this great small town in the northwestern corner of Gaston County.
The annual Chamber of Commerce meeting took place last Thursday night at the Cherryville Golf and Country Club and was opened up with a welcome and acknowledgement of all who came that night by Chamber Board of Directors chairman Pete Craft. Mr. Craft recognized and thanked the Board, asking those members present to stand, congratulating them on all their hard work. In addition to Craft (Stamey – Cherryville Funeral Home), the following members are: Mary Beth Tackett (Director/Events Coordinator); Jhoan Alfaro (Alfaro Media Designs); Donna Beringer (Carolina Federal Credit Union); Emily Blackburn (Piedmont Lithium); Johnny Brown (Allstate Insurance); Sarah Chambers (Peak Resources); Barry Heavner (Houser Drug Co.); Emily Hurst (FleetNet America); Hannah Garrett (Carpenter – Porter Funeral Home and Cremation Services); Pam McGinnis (McGinnis Furniture of Cherryville, Inc.); Steve Panton (City of Cherryville); Casey Blair Sipe (Modern Printing Co.); and Vickie Spurling (Vickie Spurling Realty).
Craft then called on Mayor H.L. Beam, III who came up and also welcomed everyone, adding, “We are proud of our Chamber.” Beam also mentioned other events put on by the Chamber, noting that this year’s Independence Day celebration will be moved to Rudisill Stadium this year due to the street construction going on in downtown.
After the invocation by Mr. Craft, Chamber Director Tackett gave the review of the past year 2021, a section of the night’s festivities normally reserved for Events Committee Chairman Gary Dellinger, who was currently out of town.
She showed a brief video of the Year in Review, which met with acclaim by those present, and she recognized the event’s sponsors as well as the program sponsors. Those sponsors were: Carolina Federal Credit Union; the Cherryville Eagle; Cherryville Golf and Country Club; Cherryville Little Theater; City of Cherryville; Dellinger Electric; Modern Printing Company; Sheila Houser, CPA; and Upchurch Garden Center.
The three awards were sponsored by the following: Member of the Year (Calvin Hastings/KTC Broadcasting); Business of the Year (Vickie Spurling Realty); and Citizen of the Year (Patrick O’Leary).
Craft then took the podium and did a brief “Looking Back” aspect in which he commented at the end of his remarks that, “It takes different people to make things happen in a community. Always remember your small businesses and support them.”
The event them moved on to the presentation of the three awards and resultant speeches and comments.
Starting things off was Chamber 2022 Events Committee member Tina Clark who introduced the Member of the Year, Hannah Garrett, of Carpenter – Porter Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Garrett thanked the Chamber and her husband, Scott, as well as the citizens of Cherryville for their love and support, adding that while she wasn’t originally a Cherryville native, she truly loves the community and the love and honor they have given since they arrived.
Former Cherryville mayor, Wade Stroupe, presented the Business of the Year award to Houser Drug. Co-owner/operator and pharmacist Tim Moss, co-owner Don Beam, and co-owner H.L. Beam, III, came up and received the award. Moss spoke about what being one of the oldest businesses means to them and of their love for, and service to, the Cherryville community.
Lastly, the Citizen of the Year award was introduced by Mr. Don Lawrence, who spoke glowingly of the recipient, Dr. Thomas Rhyne White.
“I am proud to call him not just my doctor but my friend and mentor, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than him,” said Lawrence.
Doctor White took the podium and thanked the Chamber as well as his family and many friends present, noting that his and his wife’s decision to move back to Cherryville from Charlotte all those years ago, added to the love of the good folks of Cherryville, many of whom have been his patients at one time or another, has all culminated in this august award.
Mr. Craft, after the presentation of the awards, gave the closing remarks and the evening drew to a close.
(Additional information by Susan L. Powell)
by MICHAEL E. POWELL
Editor
michael@cfmedia.info
The night of Thursday, May 12, 2022 annual gala and banquet was a great night for those members of the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce who are not just members of our community at large but are businesses and citizens that provide so many great services and love to this great small town in the northwestern corner of Gaston County.
The annual Chamber of Commerce meeting took place last Thursday night at the Cherryville Golf and Country Club and was opened up with a welcome and acknowledgement of all who came that night by Chamber Board of Directors chairman Pete Craft. Mr. Craft recognized and thanked the Board, asking those members present to stand, congratulating them on all their hard work. In addition to Craft (Stamey – Cherryville Funeral Home), the following members are: Mary Beth Tackett (Director/Events Coordinator); Jhoan Alfaro (Alfaro Media Designs); Donna Beringer (Carolina Federal Credit Union); Emily Blackburn (Piedmont Lithium); Johnny Brown (Allstate Insurance); Sarah Chambers (Peak Resources); Barry Heavner (Houser Drug Co.); Emily Hurst (FleetNet America); Hannah Garrett (Carpenter – Porter Funeral Home and Cremation Services); Pam McGinnis (McGinnis Furniture of Cherryville, Inc.); Steve Panton (City of Cherryville); Casey Blair Sipe (Modern Printing Co.); and Vickie Spurling (Vickie Spurling Realty).
Craft then called on Mayor H.L. Beam, III who came up and also welcomed everyone, adding, “We are proud of our Chamber.” Beam also mentioned other events put on by the Chamber, noting that this year’s Independence Day celebration will be moved to Rudisill Stadium this year due to the street construction going on in downtown.
After the invocation by Mr. Craft, Chamber Director Tackett gave the review of the past year 2021, a section of the night’s festivities normally reserved for Events Committee Chairman Gary Dellinger, who was currently out of town.
She showed a brief video of the Year in Review, which met with acclaim by those present, and she recognized the event’s sponsors as well as the program sponsors. Those sponsors were: Carolina Federal Credit Union; the Cherryville Eagle; Cherryville Golf and Country Club; Cherryville Little Theater; City of Cherryville; Dellinger Electric; Modern Printing Company; Sheila Houser, CPA; and Upchurch Garden Center.
The three awards were sponsored by the following: Member of the Year (Calvin Hastings/KTC Broadcasting); Business of the Year (Vickie Spurling Realty); and Citizen of the Year (Patrick O’Leary).
Craft then took the podium and did a brief “Looking Back” aspect in which he commented at the end of his remarks that, “It takes different people to make things happen in a community. Always remember your small businesses and support them.”
The event them moved on to the presentation of the three awards and resultant speeches and comments.
Starting things off was Chamber 2022 Events Committee member Tina Clark who introduced the Member of the Year, Hannah Garrett, of Carpenter – Porter Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Garrett thanked the Chamber and her husband, Scott, as well as the citizens of Cherryville for their love and support, adding that while she wasn’t originally a Cherryville native, she truly loves the community and the love and honor they have given since they arrived.
Former Cherryville mayor, Wade Stroupe, presented the Business of the Year award to Houser Drug. Co-owner/operator and pharmacist Tim Moss, co-owner Don Beam, and co-owner H.L. Beam, III, came up and received the award. Moss spoke about what being one of the oldest businesses means to them and of their love for, and service to, the Cherryville community.
Lastly, the Citizen of the Year award was introduced by Mr. Don Lawrence, who spoke glowingly of the recipient, Dr. Thomas Rhyne White.
“I am proud to call him not just my doctor but my friend and mentor, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than him,” said Lawrence.
Doctor White took the podium and thanked the Chamber as well as his family and many friends present, noting that his and his wife’s decision to move back to Cherryville from Charlotte all those years ago, added to the love of the good folks of Cherryville, many of whom have been his patients at one time or another, has all culminated in this august award.
Mr. Craft, after the presentation of the awards, gave the closing remarks and the evening drew to a close.
(Additional information by Susan L. Powell)