W. Dunlap Covington Award for Community Service winner Todd Moore accepts the award from the 2009 award winner, Elaine Scarborough, as his wife Vanessa looks on during the Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and banquet Tuesday night, Nov. 16.
It was the second straight year that the Lockhart-Taylor Center has hosted the event, which included a catered meal prepared in the community kitchen.
"It's a big help to have that here," Chamber executive director Lynn Edwards said of the community kitchen.
Before the awards were handed out, a brief business meeting was held, during which treasurer Dana Maness gave a positive report on how the Chamber is doing in these tough economic times.
"The Chamber had a very good year," he said, adding that membership was only "down slightly" from 300 last year to 281 this year. The Chamber's major fundraisers— the annual golf tournament and the 2009 Big Game Hunt— raised more than $12,000 and $11,000, respectively.
Brandis Chewning and Mary Little were unanimously selected to join the Chamber's board of directors, while outgoing board members Maness and Harvey Leavitt were honored with plaques from outgoing board chair Carly Little.
Incoming chair Lewis Evans also presented Little with an award of appreciation for her past year as chair of the board.
Dr. Don Altieri, the 2009 recipient of the Henry W. Little III Community Leadership Award, had the honor of presenting the 2010 award. He began his introduction by giving out facts about the recipient, asking if the audience could recognize who he was talking about before announcing the name.
He stated that the recipient was a native of Hillsborough, a former fighter pilot and had served on many statewide and community boards, including the Yost Foundation board, the Anson County Community College board of trustees and now the South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) board, and the Anson Community Hospital board. He said the recipient had also had a very successful banking career.
The recipient was Jim Strayhorn. "Let me tell you why Jim was selected for this award," Altieri said. "This award is not only about leadership but about the importance of education."
He went on to say that many visitors to Anson County often comment on how nice the county's elementary schools look. "Jim worked tirelessly on the bond referendum to get those schools built," Altieri said.
Strayhorn was also instrumental in many expansion projects on the SPCC campus, as well as the new Wadesboro Town Park. He also helped create Anson Bank and Trust with the goal of making it "the preferred bank of Anson County," Altieri said.
When called to the podium to accept his award with wife Beverly, Strayhorn visibly fought back tears. "The special thing about this," he said of the Henry W. Little III Community Leadership Award, "is that Henry and I were friends, and I'm glad I got the one with his name on it."
He added that he and his wife moved to Anson County in 1983 and he promised her they'd stay for three years. Almost 20 years later, they're still here.
"It's always been a wonderful place to live and work, and I'm so glad we stayed here," he said.
Next up, last year's W. Dunlap Covington Award for Community Service winner, Elaine Scarborough, presented the 2010 award to Todd Moore.
She, too, did not immediately reveal the name of the recipient, instead offering clues.
"This person is always upbeat and willing to help in any situation," Scarborough said, later adding, "This person's personal goal is to make a positive impact on Anson County."
When she listed the hobbies, which including riding on his Harley and growing chickens, Moore said he knew it was him.
In addition to his job at Pee Dee Electric, Moore also operates a chicken farm with his wife of 15 years, Vanessa. They have four sons, two grandsons and a granddaughter due in December.
"What you may not know about Todd and Vanessa," Scarborough went on, "is that they also have a 2-year-old little boy... a rescue dog named Decker."
The Moores celebrate Decker's birthday on the same day as Todd's birthday, she added.
"Probably very few people in this room have not been recipients of Todd's community service," Scarborough said.
After receiving the award, Moore, also fighting back tears, said, "You got me. This was very unexpected."
He said he has been involved with the Chamber for the past five years and attributes its success to three things — Edwards, her assistant, Dusty Moser, the hardworking board of directors and the Anson County community.
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