|
|
Youngker
shown with his wife Lois and presenters Randy Gump and Kathy
Magoto.
Photos by Richard Coffield
|
|
Versailles
Chamber recognizes community contributors
By Kathy Magoto
Monday evening the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce recognized James
Youngker as Citizen of the Year, during its annual banquet.
Presenting the award on behalf of the Chamber was former longtime
Village Administrator and former board member Randy Gump.
“It seems this guy doesn’t do anything for less than a decade or more”,
said Gump as he recounted Youngker’s more than five decades with Weaver
Bros., his serving 20 years with the Poultry Days Festival, and 20
years of filming VHS football games.
Youngker is also a WWII Air Force veteran, a founder of the Versailles
Poultry Days Festival, an original member of the Versailles Rotary
Club, a founder of the Versailles Little League, and served on the
committee which established the Versailles Swimming Pool.
Youngker said “Nobody could be more surprised than me to find out I was
honored with this award. Versailles is the type of community
where everybody seems to work together. They’re not looking for a
pat on the back it’s just something the people of Versailles do.”
“I would like to think that I am accepting (this award) as a
representative of all those people who are working now and who have
worked in the past to make the community of Versailles a better place
to live. I thank God, and I’m so honored,” Youngker said.
State Representative Jim Buchy shared Youngker’s sentiment by saying
Youngker is “so typical of this community” and presented Youngker with
additional recognition on behalf of the State House and State Senate
legislature.
The Versailles (Baseball) Diamond Club was also recognized for their
contributions to the Versailles community with the People, Pride and
Progress Award presented by the chamber’s incoming President Aaron
Moran. The Diamond Club has been responsible for the building of
the new track complex, as well as maintaining the facility “with no
signs of stopping.” They have shown “steadfast support for the
school and the kids both academically and athletically”, stated Moran.
Six members of the club were on hand to receive the award. State
Representative Buchy also presented State recognition to the Diamond
Club and thanked them for their investment in the community.
Three former recipients of the Citizen of the Year award were in
attendance; Al Hetrick (1991), Jim Poeppleman (2007), and Tom Donnelly
(2012).
The evening also included a report from chamber outgoing president
Scott Langston, the re-election of six board of directors to new 2 year
terms: Brian Wagner, Mitch Eiting, Dan Watren, Kathy Magoto, Ron
Mescher, and Aaron Moran. Two new directors were elected; Jackie
Briscoe and Leslie Coomer. These ladies will fill the
remaining one year terms vacated by outgoing directors Eric Paulus and
Dave Miller. Also serving on the board is: Fred Poeppelman,
Scott Langston, Jerry Bey III and Rodd Hale.
|
|
Members
of The Diamond Club shown with (l-r) Presenter Aaron Moran, Tom
Donnelly, John Kindell,
Matt Watren, Ted Lyons, Tony Rose, and Max
Kindell.
|
|
2016 VACC Board (front l-r) Aaron Moran, Dan Watren, Kathy
Magoto, Jackie Briscoe, Brian Wagner
(back row) Scott Langston, Jerry
Bey, Ron Mescher, Fred Poeppelman, Mitch Eiting, Rodd Hale.
|
|
|
|
