Honoring community impact

Staff report

link Tony Bullocks: Staff photo

Selmus Price walks to the stage to receives his 2014 Heart Award.

Plenty of awards, and a muster — that’s a group of peacocks — of bird-themed comments spiced up the night as the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce celebrated “A Feather in Our Cap” at its annual banquet.

Held at the Clovis Civic Center, the event celebrated the chamber’s 2014, and honored businesses and individuals that made a huge community impact.

The following awards were presented during the banquet, hosted by Executive Director Ernie Kos and outgoing Chamber President Holly Stockstill:

• Young Professionals of Clovis Member of the Year: Jonathan Wilson.

Wilson, an assistant professor at the College of Liberal Arts at Ashford University, is the vice president of YPC. In nominations, he was recognized for full support of the YPC’s threefold objective of networking, professional development and giving back.

In particular, Wilson used his expertise to review the YPC’s bylaws and rules of order.

• Ambassador of the Year: B.J. Brooks.

Brooks, a South Carolina native, has a master’s degree in counseling from Eastern New Mexico University. Since joining the ambassador committee, Brooks oversaw all meetings and events for the chamber ambassadors and attended the National Association of Ambassadors Conference on behalf of the group.

He also holds degrees from Lander University in South Carolina and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas.

• Business of the Year: Diamonds Evermore.

The jewelry business, owned by Gail and Todd Tarson, was established in late 2011.

The business has donated jewelry for numerous fundraisers, with beneficiaries including Relay for Life, High Plains Humane Society, Cannon Air Force Base Family Readiness Center, the Curry County Wellness Council and the Hartley House.

Additionally, the company donated more than $7,500 in jewelry to United Way of Eastern New Mexico events in 2014.

• Volunteer of the Year: Mike Morris.

Morris, a Tucumcari native, has been in Clovis since 2006.

Morris, who has been an insurance agent with State Farm since 2006, began the Young Professionals of Clovis and helped to nurture other young professionals. He is active with the chamber, and teaches Sunday school and leads a Wednesday night group at Central Baptist Church.

• Ken Huey Patriot Award: Connie and Mike Connolly.

Connie Connolly has served the Clovis Committee of Fifty in every office, including chair. She has also served on the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, United Way Board of Directors, Clovis Community College's Foundation Board. She was president of Western Bank for 23 years until her June retirement, and serves as the board’s vice-chair.

Mike Connolly entered the U.S. Air Force in 1956, and spent most of his career in tactical air command. He flew 337 missions in Vietnam and earned the Silver Star. He retired in 1980 as commander of Cannon Air Force Base.

He served for two years as city manager for Clovis, served as a special assistant to Lonnie Allsup for 13 years and ran his own aviation business for 10 years.

The couple were named godparents for the daughter of one Cannon pilot, and they have served as honorary grandparents for 10 children of active duty airmen.

• Heart Award: Selmus Price

Price has served as chairman of the city’s Cultural and Ethnic Affairs Committee for more than 20 years. The committee is tasked mostly with the annual ethic fair.

Price, a member of the Clovis branch of the NAACP, also volunteers with activities for the local Juneteenth celebration and works with the Clovis school system to facilitate Legislature visits as part of African-American Day.

• Lifetime Achievement: Anna Crook, Joe Thomas.

The award is given to an individual who has invested significant energy, money and resources into the community.

Crook, born in Crossroads in 1934, graduated from Eastern New Mexico University and went to Kansas City, Missouri, while her husband Jerry attended dentistry school.

During her 20 years as a state representative, Crook penned legislation that created the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority and pushed through a bill that allowed farmers to sell irrigation water to EPCOR to be used by Clovis residents.

Thomas, who will retire after more than 42 years working with the city, has served for 10 years as city manager. He also served as assistant chief of police, public works director and assistant city manager.

In his current position, Thomas oversees 14 city departments.

• Citizen of the Year: Ron and Ernie Kos.

Ron Kos is a Clovis native, while Ernie moved to Clovis at the age of 10 when her father received an assignment at Cannon. The two met at Sacred Heart School, and also attended Gattis Junior High and Clovis High School together.

The two attended Eastern New Mexico University, and each received a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Ernie Kos was named the state’s chamber director of the year in 2002, and last month received the key to the city from the Clovis city commission.

She also served as the director of United Way in Curry County and chairs the Women’s Initiative Network.

Stockstill also recognized 27th Special Operations Wing Commander Col. Tony Bauernfeind and his wife Tricia, and passed the gavel to incoming president Derek Cockrell.