Scott Swanson
Retired music teacher Ken Collins was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for 2013, while Linda Rowton, the wife of another retired local music teacher, was named First Citizen at the Chamber of Commerce’s 70th Annual Awards Banquet Saturday night, March 8.
The banquet, which drew some 250 people despite a line-up of competing events Saturday evening, was held at the Community Center.
Other winners were Wendy Younger, chosen Jr. First Citizen; Kimi Dixon as Patti Woods Woman of the Year; Rita’s Relics/Oregon Prospecting as Business of the Year, and Sweet Home Veterans Club as Organization of the Year.
VIP Awards from the President’s Club went to Joan Scofield, Bob Dalton, Mary Brendle, Eddy McCartin and Craig Martin.
Chamber President Brandi Pickett recognized chamber office manager Sherrie Pagliari, who is going to work for the Albany Visitor’s Center, for demonstrating “what passion, dedication and hard work means,” presenting her with a potted flower arrangement.
Milt and Jane Moran presented a donation of $5,150 to Sunshine Industries Board Member Bob Dalton, from the Oregon Logging Conference in Eugene, which Moran headed last month.
Jane Moran hosted a Desserts for Dreams social at the Eugene Hilton for the wives of attendees at the conference and chose Sunshine Industries as the charity for which she was raising money, Milt Moran said.
“We all know Sunshine has done a really, really great job of putting together a brand new facility with a lot of help from folks here in town,” he said. “I think we should be very very proud of a facility here in Sweet Home that takes care of folks all round Sweet Home and around the valley.”
Chamber Award Winners
Distinguished Service Award Winner Ken Collins, 77, was introduced by last year’s winners, Henry and Mollie Wolthuis.
Reflecting on the community spirit that was palpable as the evening wore on, Henry Wolthuis drew a big laugh from the crowd as he arrived at the podium for the final presenation, relating a humorous parable about a farmer who had a “nag” that he entered each year in the Kentucky Derby, though the horse never had a prayer.
“Someone asked him, ‘Why do you always do that? You’ll never win.’
“The farmer replied, ‘It just feels good to get lathered up in good company.’”
He introduced Collins as “a straight, friendly, real depth-for-life, non-imposing person and always willing to help. A U.S. Navy veteran, Collins taught music in Sweet Home School District 1990-2001, was a longtime volunteer with the Oregon Jamboree and has been heavily involved in the Salvation Army as a band member and composer. His father was a Salvation Army band leader and his son Ken Jr. currently is a U.S. Navy band director. He has recorded and distributed patriotic songs and CD’s for use in local elementary schools and has assisted with many school performances, Mollie Wolthuis said.
Collins has been selected as one of 25 musical directors to participate in a prestigious North American Composers Forum at Asbury University later this year.
Collins plays his trumpet at the funerals of local military veterans, “whether they have given their lives in action, or served honorably, or just grew old,” Henry Wolthuis said. “He is joined by Howard Ruby in those honor guards, playing ‘Taps,’ whether it be in rain, snow or sun. I have witnessed them on very hot days, standing at attention for long periods of time, and wondered how they would hold up.
“When he arrives at the Vet’s Club, the word is, ‘Here comes the band!’”
In accepting the award, Collins thanked his wife for “allowing me to spend all that time” with the Jamboree and the Salvation Army and other activities.
He emphasized the importance of “doing for others.
“No matter what happens in life, you must think of other people first,” he said.
“That’s what Sweet Home’s about. Loving your neighbor and therefore we give of our time and we give of our efforts and of everything we have.”
First Citizen Linda Rowton, 63, was introduced by last year’s winner, Lerena Ruby.
“She has been making a difference ever since she moved here in the 1970s,” she said of Rowton, who grew up in Washington.
In addition to involvement in PEO, the Sweet Home Emergency Ministries Board of Directors, delivering Meals on Wheels and as treasurer for the United Methodist Church, Ruby said Rowton is the “go-to person” behind the church’s Manna dinners, served three times a week, and is “the driving force behind the Methodist Church’s ‘Nuts for Jesus’ project, which helps fund the Manna meals.
She also spent many years aiding her husband, Paul Rowton, with school music programs, organizing and producing the Singing Christmas Tree, the annual Lebanon Community Chorus Spring Pop Concert and other musical activities.
“She recently attended a workshop in Eugene to research the possibility of opening a community warming center for homeless citizens on freezing nights,” Ruby said. “It is amazing what can happen in a community when we show others that we care about them. Our honoree tonight shows this quality to others on a daily basis.”
Rowton said she was “very proud to be part of this community. There are so many people in this room who have helped make all these things happen. You all need to be proud of the community you are part of.”
Jr. First Citizen Wendy Younger was introduced by Pickett, who was standing in for last year’s winner, Heather Search, who couldn’t be present. Pickett noted that Younger is activie in the Presidents Club, Christmas in Sweet Home activities, the Community Foundation, Red Cross America events, the Sportsman’s Holiday Court, Sweet Home Beautification and Arts and Crafts activities, and much more – particularly as lead coordinator for the Walk for the Cause breast cancer awareness event.
She quoted one friend, who said: “Our honoree is one of those rare people who will always step up and get things done. If you asked this person for the time, (Younger) will be willing to build you a new clock if that is what it took to satisfy your request.”
Younger said it was “humbling to hear such nice things,” because “I know we have a lot of really wonderful people in this community who do so many more things than I could ever imagine.”
“I just love being part of this community.”
Patti Woods Woman of the Year Kimi Dixon was introduced by last year’s winner, Diane Gerson, who started out by stating: “If a movie were to be made depicting volunteers in Sweet Home, the nominee for this award would be in virtually every shot – whether it’s climbing a ladder in the Vet’s Club in her stocking feet and party dress to fix a wayward direction or running around the field with a clipboard, checking on the entrants in the car show, this woman does it all.”
A car lover, Dixon is active in the Mud Fest, Rollin’ Oldies car club, and directs the Sweet Home Sweet Ride Car Show. Her family includes three generations of veterans, and she also is active in the AmVets Auxiliary, serving this year as vice president and state committee chair, and as events coordinator of the Veterans Club. She also works full time at the Oregon Department of Forestry while running two businesses on the side.
She is a cervical cancer survivor and, Gerson said, “Knowing this woman, no one would have had doubts about her beating the disease. She lives by her motto, ‘You can’t move towards the future if you keep looking in the past.’”
Dixon, overcome with emotion, responded: “This community has given me so much over the years and there is no better way for me to give back than to give of myself every chance I get. I can never give enough to this community for everything it’s done for me.”
Business of the Year Rita’s Relics/Oregon Prospecting was introduced by Howard Ruby, who, with his wife Lerena, owns Seamingly Creative sewing store, last year’s winner.
He noted that Rita’s Relics/Oregon Prospecting owners Rita and Steve Huston are dedicated to business success in the downtown, participating in Shop Local activities and regularly support other businesses, Boys and Girls Club, Sunshine Industries, the Oregon Jamboree, Steppin’ into Fall and other activities.
“This business has one other thing it can offer its customers that is unique in Sweet Home,” Ruby joked. It “can help any customer who is so inclined to get into a get-rich-quick-scheme. They can sell the equipment and give the right advice for gold prospecting.”
The Hustons were out of town, but Rita Huston sent an e-mail response that was read by Firiel Severns, a friend.
“After almost 15 years in business here in Sweet Home, we are proud to still be here, proud that you honored us with this award,” Huston said. “It’s been a fun ride, certainly with some challenges along the way. This last couple of years have been pretty tough on many businesses, so it makes me especially proud to receive this reward. I look forward to passing it on to next year’s recipient.”
Organization of the Year Sweet Home Veterans Club received its award from Don Gonzalez, president of the Kiwanis Club, which was last year’s recipient. Gonzalez said the club represents “much more than their name implies.”
“They are such an intricate part of our community with all they do, from providing military funeral honors for any honorably discharged veteran to providing gas vouchers for traveling vets in need,” he said, listing the club’s contributions to SHEM Christmas baskets, putting on a Christmas party for local children, participation in the Sweet Home Sweet Ride car show and hosting the Fourth of July banjo concert, along with the contributions of the Auxiliary, Cooties, AmVets, AmVets Riders, Sons of AmVets and AmVets Auxiliary.
“I could go on and on but I think you get the idea,” Gonzalez said.
VIP Awards
VIP awards were presented by President’s Club members Ben Dahlenburg and Wendy Younger.
Mary Brendle, who was not present for the awards presentation, has served in PEO since 1976, a longtime active member of Sweet Home United Methodist Church, was instrumental in the founding of what is now the Manna meals program, has served as a SHEM board member, and has volunteered as a mentor and coordinator for the Sweet Home Youth Garden.
Bob Dalton was honored for his work with Sunshine Industries, where he serves as vice president of the board, particularly in the construction of the organization’s new headquarters on Clark Mill Road, where it will serve its 70 members. Dalton has worked “tirelessly, networking with others for donations of both money and supplies,” and he led a volunteer effort to paint the entire 8,000-square-foot facility.
Craig Martin was honored as an active Rotary Club member, Sweet Home Sweet Ride car show volunteer, and his work with the Best in the West Triathlon and the Willamette Valley Open Water Water Polo Tournament at Foster Reservoir, his work with local high school swimmers and as a water polo coach.
Sweet Home High School senior Eddy McCartin was honored for his participation in the high school’s Key Club, for which he has been president for the last two years, and his leadership in an annual community blood drive, planning school dances, and work with the Sweet Home Sweet Ride car show and Mud Fest. He also has been an “integral” part of the high school’s GEAR UP class that wrote the business and marketing plans for Husky Den, the student-led frozen yogurt shop. McCartin wasn’t hard to find at the banquet. He was one of the dinner servers.
Joan Scofield was honored for her 14 years delivering Meals on Wheels, participation in Wycliffe Bible Translators work, volunteer work at Wiley Creek, where she reads to seniors who can’t, and her volunteer proofreading sections of The New Era newspaper.
The chicken cordon bleu dinner, prepared by Lynn Damewood and Miranda Wright, was served by Joey and Jensen Damewood and Lynn Beaver, with help from Sweet Home High School Key Club members, who also bussed tables, washed dishes and cleaned up. Also assisting with the dinner were Terri Pitts, Patti Holk, Chas Palmer and Bob Edwards.