Future Chamber Awards to Include Namesakes

At Thursday’s Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet Agnes Oglesby received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Oglesby said she appreciates the award, but it is not about recognition for her.

“Very excited to get this award,” said Oglesby. “I want to thank the Chamber and board for voting me in, and as I said inside I don’t do this for recognition, I do this so my life won’t be in vain. Anything I can do for anyone I will do it.”

Three other awards handed out by the chamber will now include a namesake.

The Service/Professional Award will now be called the Ben Cheek Service/Professional Award named for the Owner/Founder of First Franklin Financial.

Judge Robert Struble recognized Cheek and his contributions to the community.

“Ben, you have a wife and children that love and respect you, you have friends in this community that love and respect you, you have a company that has grown and prospered providing jobs and a meaningful life to many,” said Struble. “You have given greatly to your church through love and contribution, you have given to the Toccoa Symphony Orchestra and many other community activities.”

Cheek recognized Bob Evans, who served as Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President, and Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director for twenty eight years from 1968-1996.

The Chamber Chairman’s Award will now be called the Bob Evans Chairman’s Award. Cheek said that Evans was instrumental in the growth of Toccoa-Stephens County.

“Under Bob’s leadership in those 28 years, the team composed of Chamber, Development Authority, and local and state government leaders, located 48 Industries and 5,000 jobs in Toccoa-Stephens County,” said Cheek.

Evans said Toccoa has been a special place.

“This has been a labor of love. We were fortunate enough to have some success during the years I served,” said Evans. “When it came time to retire, some thought I would return to Bradenton or Sarasota, Florida because we know that was your goal. I said no, Toccoa is the greatest place in the whole wide world.”

The Manufacturing/Industry Business of the Year Award will now be the LP Greer Manufacturing Award named for the late LP “Bub” Greer, the longtime Coats and Clark leader, Toccoa mayor in 1962 and served two terms on the Georgia Port Authority.

Billy Chism shared this about Greer:

“Many of you remember Mr. Greer but some may not know him since he retired in 1983. Mr Greer died last year a few weeks shy of his 98th birthday,”said Chism. “So it’s my privilege to tell you about a man that meant a lot to our county and the thousands of employees at Coats and Clark. Mr Greer had a 35-year career with the company and his final position was Vice-President of Manufacturing. By the time of his retirement in 1983, he had enjoyed a long record of service, not only to Coats and Clark, but to the community and to the state.”

Award winners from Thursday’s Chamber Banquet included the following:

Lifetime Achievement Award…Agnes Oglesby

Ben Cheek Service/Professional Business of the Year…Quality Foods

LP Greer Manufacturing Award…PTL Equipment

Agriculture Business of the Year…Eastanollee Livestock

Retail Business of the Year…Brother Johns Subs

Young Professional of the Year…Britany Ivey

Tourism Award…Camp Toccoa @ Currahee

Entrepreneur of the Year…Mike Jones Ford/Lincoln

Senior of the Year…Gordon Telford

Non-Profit of the Year…Neighbors 4 Neighbors Food Bank

Volunteer of the Year…Keith Kozicki

Bob Evans Chairman Award…Craig Dickinson