Chamber '...of the year' Award Winners

Every Year, we honor members of the community for outstanding contributions to the civic, business, and educational well-being of our community.  Awards are given at our Annual Dinner.

Citizen of the Year

  • 1975 – Dr. James Donosky
  • 1976 – Leland Brown
  • 1977 – Rev. Rex Wilson
  • 1978 – Betty Frailey
  • 1979 – WM. Eovaldi
  • 1980 – Rich Herrin
  • 1981 – Rev H.V. Knight
  • 1982 – Billy G. Dixon
  • 1983 – Rev. Dale Carson
  • 1984 – Larry Foster
  • 1985 – Herbert Mundell
  • 1986 – Judge James Foreman
  • 1987 – Mable Webb
  • 1988 – Brian Summers & Alan Kimball
  • 1989 – Gene Alexander
  • 1990 – Dorothy Bauer
  • 1991 – George & Edna Severin
  • 1992 – Albert Smith
  • 1993 – Robert & Rosie Rice
  • 1994 – Robert S. Rea
  • 1995 – Betty Furlow
  • 1996 – Jake Seymour
  • 1997 – Kenneth Eubanks
  • 1998 – Robert BUD Montgomery
  • 1999 – Mary Taylor
  • 2000 – Mack Wynn
  • 2001 – Robert Taylor
  • 2002 – Ida Rhodes
  • 2003 – Francis Wilson
  • 2004 – Paul Swearingen
  • 2005 – Dave Bauer
  • 2006 – Dave Atchison
  • 2007 – Ruby Murphy
  • 2008 – Richard O. Hart
  • 2009 – Stephen Mitchell
  • 2010 – Kathy Storey
  • 2011 –  Ruth Montgomery
  • 2012 – Charles Cockrum
  • 2013 – Ralph Smith
  • 2014 – Coy Cockrum
  • 2015 – Fred Kondritz
  • 2016 - John Metzger
  • 2017 - Skipped
  • 2018 - Jayna Hart
  • 2019 - Greg Poole
  • 2020 - Steven Pate
  • 2021 - Charles Webster
  • 2022 - Rhonda Gilbreath

Volunteer of the year

  • 2003 – Sarah VonFossen
  • 2004 – Franklin Hospital Ladies Auxiliary
  • 2005 – Teresa Beasley
  • 2006 – Vickie Seagle
  • 2007 – Gene Alexander
  • 2008 – Habitat for Humanity / Bud Montgomery
  • 2009 – Doris Heaton
  • 2010 – Gloria June Atchison Brdlik
  • 2011 – Curves
  • 2012 – Carol Sluzevich
  • 2013 – American Legion Auxiliary
  • 2014 – Franklin Hospital Ladies Auxiliary
  • 2015 – Garden Gate Garden Club & Town and Country Gardeners

Business of the Year

  • 1988 – Fred Claxton Celebrity Boats
  • 1989 – Robert Taylor Taylor Motor Co.
  • 1990 – Richard Beatty Days Inn
  • 1991 – Janet Robinson Country Kitchen
  • 1993 – Larry Lipe Lipe & Associates
  • 1994 – Ferrell Winemiller FW Electric
  • 1995 – John Huffman/Lowell Williams Town & Country Hardware
  • 1996 – Everett H. Collins Barton & Collins Furniture Co.
  • 1997 – Mark Dyel/Kristy McMurray Dyel’s Fine Foods
  • 1998 – Joyce & Bill Lamont Sav-A-Lot
  • 1999 – Dave & Lou Cooper Cooper Photographic Studio & Gallery, Inc.
  • 2000 – Joe & Sue Zsido Custom Stainless Steel, Inc.
  • 2001 – Vickee Cockrum VicKee’s Card Shop
  • 2002 – Hart & Hart Attorney At Law
  • 2003 – Benton Evening News
  • 2004 – Concept of Illinois
  • 2005 – Jamerson Auto Sales, Inc.
  • 2006 – BRP US, Inc.
  • 2007 – FB McAfoos Co.
  • 2008 – Peoples National Bank
  • 2009 – US Army Corps of Engineers
  • 2010 – State Bank of Whittington
  • 2011 – Four Seasons ACE Hardware
  • 2012 – Heritage Woods
  • 2013 – Thomas Printing
  • 2014 – Abbott’s Towing
  • 2015 – Childers Orthodontics
  • 2016 - Flowers by Dave
  • 2017 - Skipped
  • 2018 - Pate Funeral Home
  • 2019 - Cycle1 Cycling Studio
  • 2020 - Seasoning Bistro
  • 2021 - Mincon
  • 2022 - LA Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

educator of the year

  • 2002 – Betty Pinson Hutchens
  • 2003 – Jeanine Smith
  • 2004 – Marilyn Eaton
  • 2005 – Jackie Miller
  • 2006 – Mary Ellen Aiken
  • 2007 –  Sue Woodfin
  • 2008 – Gary Messersmith
  • 2009 – Bill King
  • 2010 – Vickie Fiedler Simpson
  • 2011 – Pam Kimball
  • 2012 – Greg Swinney
  • 2013 – Rod Shurtz
  • 2014 – Matt Wynn
  • 2015 - Dr. Kelly Stewart
  • 2016 - Diane Anthony
  • ​2017 - Skipped
  • 2018 - Dana Kalaher
  • 2019 - Gretchen Bennett
  • 2020 - Susan Nolan
  • 2021 - School Superintendents - Benjamin Johnson , Dr. Stephen Smith, Dr Tammy McCullom, Brock Harris, Kristen Ing
  • ​2022 - Mark Minor