Chamber to announce ‘Citizen of the Year’

PATTY BELL Kilgore Chamber of Commerce will take center stage here Thursday night when members gather for the annual banquet.

Lloyd Bolding, citizen of the year in 2009, will introduce the 2010 honoree and Dr. Charlie Whiteside, founder of Ana-Lab and owner of the company until its purchase by employees last year, will assume the helm as Chairman of the Board. He succeeds patty Bell.

The banquet this year is at 6:30 p.m. February 25 at First Baptist Church.

Chamber leadership was shaken up this year when both the chairman-elect and the vice chairman resigned because of time demands.

As a result, a whole new executive committee will be installed.

Donna Beets will be chairwoman elect, Alvin Khoury will become vice chairman. Vic Price will be treasurer.

Dr. Paul Powell, pastor at First Baptist Church for 17 years and later dean at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Fort Worth, will speak to the banquet. He is a former chairman of the regents at Baylor University and is president of the board of advisors for Texas Baptist Leadership. He is a director of Southside Bank and Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.

DR. CHARLES WHITESIDE Tickets for the banquet are priced at $25. A table sponsorship – which includes seating for eight and sponsorship signage -- is available for $350. Some tickets may still be available at the chamber office today.

Directors include Jo Stewart Maxwell, Darryl Stratton, Andrew Cauthon, Darla Rutland, Sammy York, Mike Wilcox, James Able, James Wright and Dennis McFadin.

Ex-officio board members include Bill Holda, Bill Adamson, Jody Clements and Bill Mishkind.

For more information, call the chamber at 903-984-5022.