Citizenship award goes to Prater

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

PRATER

It seemed more akin to a roast than an awards dinner, but the Morrison Ruritan Club still managed to hand out its Citizen of the Year Award to Morrison Fire Chief Bobby Prater Friday night. The banquet, held at the Morrison Ruritan Club building, had a near-capacity crowd which included family and friends of Prater, as well as Ruritan members and officers.

The evening was punctuated with humorous jibes and stories, most of them at Prater’s expense, all of which the fire chief bore with a good-natured amiability.

Master of ceremonies Lavell Whitehead started off by introducing Prater and his wife Gladys, mentioning that behind every successful man stands a surprised woman. Once the laughter died down, he continued with an impressive list of Prater’s community service, including 25 years as secretary-treasurer of Sunny Acres Children’s Home, 25 years as an elder of the Morrison Church of Christ, 50 years in the Morrison Volunteer Fire Department, 32 of those as fire chief, and 20 years as a Morrison alderman.

After testimonials from Prater’s brother, Donald, and best friend, Morrison Mayor Harris Jacobs, Morrison Ruritan Citizenship Committee Chairman Mike Holland presented the award.

Also honored was Shirley Driver who received the Ruritan of the Year award for her service to the club.