Toccoa-Stephens Co. Chamber Honors Gambrell

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce honors a long-time community leader.

Thursday, the Chamber held its annual awards banquet at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa.

This year, the Chamber presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to retired Stephens County Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell.

Presenting the award to Gambrell was 1st Franklin Financial President and CEO Ginger Herring.

“Ed may have begun his life as a native of Anderson, South Carolina and he and Trish may have relocated to Habersham County along the way as their home, but to me, Ed, Trish, and their three boys will always be an example of what makes up the heart of Toccoa and Stephens County,” said Gambrell. “Compassion, focus, vision, passion, integrity, initiative, commitment to excellence, and heart.”

Gambrell served as the Administrator at Stephens County Hospital for 28 years.

Upon his retirement, Gambrell was the longest-tenured hospital administrator in Georgia.

In addition to that, he served on numerous boards in the hospital field in Georgia, served as Toccoa Rotary Club President, and served with the United Way, among other things.

Gambrell said he is surprised, honored, and stunned by the recognition.

“I truly, truly thought my wife and I were going out to eat in Clemson tonight, until we pulled in the parking lot here and I thought that something is not right,” said Gambrell. “I am truly surprised, but I am very honored and as I said many times before though, whatever the hospital has done over the years is the result of everyone there. The employees, board members, physicians, auxiliary members, everybody. We were always a team. There is no way one person could do it by himself or herself. It truly is a team effort.”

The Chamber of Commerce also handed out a number of other awards during Thursday’s banquet.

They include:

Retail Sector Business of the Year – Bulldog’s Xpress Lube and Car Wash
Manufacturer of the Year – Osborne Wood Products
Service/Professional Business of the Year – McClure, Ramsey, Dickerson, and Escoe
Partner in Education/Workforce Development Award – Osborne Wood Products
Entrepreneur of the Year – Rick and Letha Phillips, All Things Currahee
Tourism Promotions Award – City of Toccoa
Agriculture Business Award – Owens Farm Supply
Non-Profit of the Year – Open Arms Clinic
Youth of the Year – Casey Ramsey
Senior of the Year – Tim Hale
Volunteer of the Year – Leon Womack
Chairman’s Award – Joe Ferguson