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CHDI, Amy’s Attic win chamber business awards


Julye Keeble

Staff writer

Using a gavel deemed unbreakable, which once belonged to former Vice President John Nance Garner and was on loan from the University of Texas-Austin’s Briscoe Center, outgoing board president John Dodson opened a meeting of the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce Friday night during the annual banquet and awards ceremony.

“When we’re talking about centennial, we’re talking about connections. I’m going to talk about connections. We’re here to celebrate connections over the century. Obviously we kind of drove that point home tonight, we managed to get a Uvalde-born famous person back home to speak in front of you, and that’s one heck of a connection,” Dodson said, referring to surprise guest speaker Matthew McConaughey.

The Uvalde-born star brought along his mother, Kay McConaughey, who used to teach at St. Philip’s Episcopal School, and his brother Mike “Rooster” McConaughey and the trio answered questions and offered anecdotes about Uvalde.

“In 1920, a group of businessmen got together to promote the business of their community and 100 years later, look what that’s grown into. It is my hope and my belief we will continue this legacy and keep these connections growing. It’s been an honor,” Dodson said.

He also presented chamber executive director Victoria Dühring, who served as emcee for the event, with a special award for hard work and dedication.

Dodson stated that the chamber charter requires renewal via a consensus at a meeting every 50 years. Members in attendance overwhelmingly approved renewing the chamber charter, and the motion, made by Roy Kothmann of First State Bank, passed.

As she began her term as president of the UACC board of directors, Shelly Walker spoke of growth, renewal and her intention to focus on connections that make the chamber strong. “It’s difficult to predict the future unless you build it. I look forward to what the future holds,” Walker said.

The 2020 Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors comprises Walker; Stephanie Sieckenius, vice president; Mark Adams, treasurer; Dodson; and six members, including Melissa Alejandro, J Allen Carnes, Michelle Garza, Karla Radicke, Mario Rangel, Michelle Torres, Suzanne Tumbarello and city of Uvalde liaison Joe Cardenas.

Outgoing board members included Gabe Gonzales and Kristy Fischer, and incoming new board members were Carnes and Tumbarello.

The Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Uvalde class of 2019 graduates include Richelle Runyon, Sammi Raley, Raquel Esquivel, Altagracia H. Villarreal, Al Ortiz, Laura Herrera, Yvonne White and Kim Stary. Raley was awarded a distinguished leadership award.

Class of 2020 leadership inductees are Grace Aguirre-Garcia with Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District; Regina Aviles with Oculus Halo; Hayley Bates with Capital Farm Credit; Hanna Case with First State Bank of Uvalde; Tony Gonzales with Uvalde Memorial Hospital; Sarah Hidalgo-Cook with Southwest Area Regional Transit District; Janel Horgeshimer with Lantana Realty; and Elizabeth Hutcherson-Milam with Southwest Texas Veterinary Medical Center.

The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard based at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio presented the colors. Camille Sanders Jefcoat sang the national anthem, and the Rev. Mike Marsh from St. Philip’s Episcopal Church gave the invocation.

A time capsule fabricated by Southwest Texas Junior College welding students will be buried to mark the centennial celebration.

For more information on the McConaughey family’s visit and winners of the Uvaldean and Volunteer of the Year awards, please see Page 1 of the Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, edition of the Uvalde Leader-News.

jkeeble@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335

Pete Luna|Leader-NewsAmy’s Attic proprietor Amy Carnes (second from left) holds the small business of the year award as her husband, Jimmy Carnes (second from right), and Amy’s Attic employee Irene Richards (center) look on. The award was given Friday by the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce, represented by Shelly Walker (left) and John Dodson.See the Thursday, February 13 edition of the Uvalde Leader-News for more photos.

Pete Luna|Leader-NewsAmy’s Attic proprietor Amy Carnes (second from left) holds the small business of the year award as her husband, Jimmy Carnes (second from right), and Amy’s Attic employee Irene Richards (center) look on. The award was given Friday by the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce, represented by Shelly Walker (left) and John Dodson.See the Thursday, February 13 edition of the Uvalde Leader-News for more photos.

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