Citizen of the Year selected on Feb. 7
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Roland Velvin will succeed Kenneth Plunk as chairman of the board and a citizen of the year will be named at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet Feb. 7.

Tickets, priced at $25 or $350 for a table of eight, are on sale at the chamber office through Feb. 1. The office is open monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Citizen of the year is one of the highest honors bestowed by the chamber. The nominee must have been a resident of Kilgore for at least five years; be a local business or civic leader, whose unselfish service has furthered the civic and business welfare of Kilgore; a member of Kilgore Chamber of Commerce or the representative of a member in good standing; have manifested unusual service in community church projects, civic club service, church activities, civic improvement projects, United Fund or industrial development, unsolicited and unselfish service for others to the betterment of Kilgore and the community.

The award may be given posthumously and the award shall be based on the honoree's activities for at least five years.

Nominations for this award may be made by submitting a nomination letter - signed and sealed - to Kilgore Chamber of Commerce, no later than Feb. 1.

Keynote speaker will be Rev. Dan Carroll, senior minister at Eastridge Park Christian Church, in Mesquite. In addition to more than 40 years in the ministry, Carroll has officiated high school football for 37 years.

"I am excited about our speaker and how he relates his experiences in football and ministry," Coston said. "The similarities between the two are surprising."

The banquet will also mark the official welcome of two new chamber employees, Barbara Garrett, chamber secretary, and Carol Hinton, coordinator of membership and tourism.

The banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at Kilgore High School Cafeteria. Reservations are required.

For more information call Hinton or Garrett at 903-984- 5022.