TOP CITIZEN
Chamber honors Bobby Beane

Bobby Beane was named Citizen of the Year 2007 at last night's Chamber of Commerce banquet.

He was introduced by last year's honoree, Latane Speer.

Beane, a native Texan moved, around as a child with his parents, Von Rhea and Charlene, and his two siblings, finally settling in Kilgore after living in Waco, Marshall and Mineola.

Beane's father was a drill sergeant and when Bobby was born, the family was expecting a girl, Speer said. Beane was surrounded by a sea of pink.

Beane grew up learning the importance of never giving up, and these early childhood lessons have shaped his life today, Speer said in her introduction.

Growing up with two brothers, sports was a big part of his life. That interest carried over to his college days when he played on the 1977 Baylor baseball team that earned him a trip to the College World Series.

In 1978, Beane was then given the honor to be an assistant coach on the Baylor baseball team that returned to the College World Series.

An active community member, Beane has been a leader and volunteer for the past twenty years, involved with the following activities: a chamber member for 20-plus years, Beane was the 1992 chamber president, he was the education chairman for five years, sports committee chairman for five years, the chamber golf tournament chairman, an original Leadership Kilgore graduate, a member of the KISD Texas Scholar Program, a junior achievement volunteer and past Project Graduation chairman. He is the vice president of the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation, a Kilgore United Fund Division Leader for five years, coached Kilgore boys baseball for eight years, a Meadowbrook Country Club board member and a past chairman of the Meadowbrook Classic. He is an active deacon at the First Baptist Church, a Sunday School teacher for ten years and a pastoral search committee member.

Beane and his wife Jacki are parents of Ashley and Brent.