Few named Citizen of the Year by chamber
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Newsboy photo/Charles Kerr ED FEW receives his Citizen of the Year award from Estelle Debney during Friday's Chamber banquet.

Ed Few is the Citizen of the Year, as announced at the annual Jasper Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce banquet at the Wesley Center last Friday.

Florena Byerly, who turned 100 on Monday, Jan. 28, was honored as the chamber of commerce's first secretary almost 80 years ago. Most of her family was in attendance as chamber president Dick White read a brief account of her century in Jasper.

Marilyn Lewis was recognized as Embassy Envoy of the Year. The envoys help promote the chamber and recruit members throughout the year. Lewis works for Advantage Plus.

"Marilyn always takes part in all the chamber activities, helps at all the ribbon cuttings, the Miss Fall Fest pageant, membership drive and the intown call program," said Mary Ann McCoy, membership coordinator for the chamber.

Last year's honorees presented this year's awards:

Chrystal Reeves presented young person of the year award to Jennifer Gobert, who works at Texas Workforce. Gobert is an active participant in the Embassy Club, past president of the PTA at Trinity School, works with the Jasper Community Theater and was the one who originated the idea for the championship baseball photo auction last year.

Newsboy photo/Jeff Reedy HONOREES FROM the Jasper Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce pose for a picture following the Friday, Jan. 25 program at the Wesley Center.

Jasper Police Chief Todd Hunter presented the newcomer award to Charles and

Sharon Kerr of The Jasper

Newsboy. Sharon Kerr has worked as a reporter for a year and a half, and husband Charles Kerr serves as a contract photographer in addition to his work as an independent inspector of wood products.

Kathy Lehne, founder of Sun Coast Resources, was recognized a the Hometown Hero, an award reserved for someone who grew up in Jasper who goes on to make notable contributions beyond Jasper.

Lehne's company was recognized by Entrpreneur magazine in 2007 as one of the top-fifty most rapidly growing women-led companies in the nation. It's billion dollars in revenue makes it the largest womanowned business in Texas, and third in the nation.

Last year's winner, Dennis Smith of the Golden Corral, who also catered the banquet, awarded the small business of the year plaque to Advantage Plus Homecare. Husband Charles Frazier accepted the plaque on behalf of his wife Brenda Frazier.

"Advantage Plus is always out there in the community helping out," said Amber Stroman, chamber admin assistant. "They sponsor every event, they do a Halloween carnival for the kids, they helped during Hurricane Rita by cooking for and providing fuel for all the doctors and nurses who came and helped after the storm."

Last year's chamber member of the year Brent Meaux of State Farm Insurance awarded Ky Griffin this year's honors. Griffin is co-owner of Stringer and Griffin Funeral Home. He created the Dam to Dam bike ride, which is a fund-raiser for the chamber that draws hundreds of participants to Jasper for a bike ride from Dam B to the dam at Lake Sam Rayburn every fall.

Ed Few not only received the citizen of the year award from last year's recipient, Estelle Debney, he also received a commendation from Congressman Kevin Brady's office presented by Brady's press secretary Lydia Damrel.

Few has been a major figure in many businesses in Jasper, including bringing in Few Ready Mix, partnered with the Snelsons in creating Jasper Tire (now Lakeway Tire), mentored Kathy Lehne when she was a teenager, helped with the creation of Humphrey Pavilion and the expansion of Angelina College, and purchased the financiallytroubled Jasper Country Club to keep it going.

Outgoing president Dick White introduced incoming president Richard Dally and the members of the board of the chamber of commerce.

For more information on upcoming chamber plans, go to www.jaspercoc.org or call 384-2762.