Chamber honors 3 shining stars
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Claiming top honors were Larry Flatt as Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Ron Wilson as the winner of the Free Enterprise Award, and Carrie Huckeby as Volunteer of the Year.
In presenting the Distinguished Citizen of the Year award, last year’s winner, Linda Gilbert, spelled out the criteria. It involves extraordinary commitment to the community through civic and service involvement, distinguished achievement in their chosen vocation, dedication and involvement in their religious life, and one who is of high moral character.
“It certainly caught me by surprise,” Flatt said. “I didn’t have any indication at all that I was going to be selected. It’s a very prestigious award, and certainly I am grateful and honored to have received it. I feel honored that I would be put in the same category with lots of other people who probably are more deserving than I am.”
Flatt said the award is for him, like most who get involved in community service, a side effect of something he has always enjoyed doing and found very rewarding in its own right.
“You do these things because you want McMinnville and Warren County to be a better place to live,” he said. “You just try to be part of the team and make sure that whatever part you can contribute is a part that makes the team successful. That’s my philosophy. I just want to be a good team player and a good team member, and make sure that everybody is successful.”
Flatt said that kind of teamwork is a big part of his getting the award, and that he valued everyone who has worked with him in the past.
Wilson, owner and proprietor of Morrison Tool and Fab, received the Free Enterprise Award. Wilson has taken his business from 14 to 125 employees and has steered it through two physical expansions, one at his longtime location at 246 Mt. View Industrial Drive and the other a recent move of his final assembly and shipping department to the county’s former spec building late last year.
Wilson said he was surprised but pleased with the award.
“It’s an honor to be considered an entrepreneur or a business leader among the true entrepreneurs who exist in Warren County,” said Wilson. “It was an honor they would even consider me. It was a blessing, and I appreciate the recognition.”
Wilson said the award demonstrated how important the Chamber feels local industry is to the county, as does he.
“I think local industry is critical to any economy,” he said. “And not being the exception, I think Warren County depends on small business and industry to drive the community.”
Wilson said he is also proud of the support homegrown businesses have been getting from local government as of late.
“I think it’s instrumental the way the Chamber and the Industrial Development Board is supporting local industry the way they have,” he said, “and actively recruiting new industries. I think that’s a testament to the leaders of our Chamber and Industrial Board and the hard work they’re doing to take care of the businesses that they have to make them want to continue to stay in Warren County.”
Ben Lomand employee Carrie Huckeby was chosen as Volunteer of the Year. Huckeby has been involved with a wide variety of local organizations and programs and has made volunteerism a part of her life. She said she was gratified to be recognized.
“There are so many people out there that do a lot of community service work in our home town,” said Huckeby. “I feel like I’m one of many.”
Huckeby said volunteerism is vital to a community.
“It’s very important,” she said. “I think with your civic groups and charitable organizations nothing would be accomplished without volunteers giving of their time. It’s those people that are born with that volunteer blood in them, wanting to make things better and wanting to give back. I think McMinnville and Warren County are fortunate to have so many people who take part in all that goes on here.”