Chamber dinner honors community volunteers, man and woman of the year
Roth Stratton, WBRT managing partner, was the recipient of the chamber’s 2016 Man of the Year.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, 11:44 p.m. — A large crowd gathered Thursday night in the Great Hall at My Old Kentucky Home State Park for a celebration to honor individuals in our area who have given generously of their time and talents to make Bardstown and Nelson County a better place to live.
The Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner also celebrated the community’s continued success, thanks to the efforts of its membership and local business and industry.
Jamie Sizemore, publisher of the Kentucky Standard, presents Gary Bishop with the newspaper’s Ron Filkins Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is named for former Standard publisher Ron Filkins.
The 2016 Ron Filkins Volunteer of the Year Award was the first award presented Thursday evening. Jamie Sizemore, publisher of the Kentucky Standard, presented the award to Gary Bishop for his willingness to get involved in organizations when asked to contribute.
Kim Huston, president of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency, nominated Bishop for the award. Bishop’s volunteerism has played an vital role in the development of a number of local organizations, including the American Red Cross, Knights of Columbus, the Feeding America Program, the Guthrie Opportunity Center and the Bardstown Bourbon Task Force.
In her nomination, Huston said Bishop worked tirelessly as a volunteer without thought of himself or person gain. “He’s the definition of a great volunteer,” she wrote.
Bishop praised all of the many volunteers in the community, calling the valuable assets that “are what drives this community and what makes this community stronger. It helps us grow and will help us succeed in the future.”
Theresa Hurst gestures as she accepts the chamber’s 2016 Woman of the Year.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR. Theresa Hurst was honored with the chamber’s 2016 Woman of the Year. In addition to her work as a vice-president at Town & Country Bank and Trust, she has served in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles in the community.
“Her eternal optimism and sincere love for this community is what makes her truly deserving fo this award.” the nominator wrote.
MAN OF THE YEAR. WBRT managing partner Roth Stratton was named the chamber’s 2016 Man of the Year. Last year’s award recipient, Tiger Huston, highlighted Stratton’s contributions to the area that included building Hometown Radio WBRT a larger partner in service to the community.
Jack Kelley was presented with the chamber’s Lifetime Achievement award for his contributions to the community as a volunteer, an attorney and a local business owner.
In addition to support for local events, festivals and the chamber, Stratton was instrumental in supporting the annual Christmas parade when its future was in jeopardy.
Stratton thanked his families — his immediate family and his radio station family — as well as his radio station partners for coming together eight years ago to form the Bardstown Radio Team.
Stratton quoted longtime New York radio station owner Bill O’Shaughnessy who has pointed out the value of a local radio station can have to a community. Radio can be not just a rewarding career path, but a way to make a positive difference in a community.
“You can build up a community with it, you can make it stronger,” O’Shaughnessy said.
Stratton also credited his father, Western Kentucky radio station owner Charlie Stratton, who gave him his first opportunity to work in broadcasting.
Margie Bradford was one of two inductees into the 2016 Nelson County Hall of Fame.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT. Tom Isaac presented the chamber’s Lifetime Achievement award to Jack Kelley Sr.. Isaac reviewed Kelley’s extensive contributions to the community during his decades of service as an attorney and a community supporter.
HALL OF FAME. Margie Bradford, was inducted into the chamber’s Hall of Fame and recognized for her 34 years of service as a member of the Bardstown City Schools board of education. Bradford was a longtime advocate for improving the health and welfare of school students. She pushed the school district to hire a school nurse, one of the first districts in the state to do so. The district’s new on-campus health clinic was dedicated to her when it opened last fall.
Former city councilman Bobby Simpson was also inducted into the Nelson County Hall of Fame.
Former Bardstown City Councilman Bobby Simpson was the second inductee to the chamber Hall of Fame. Simpson e was recognized for his years of quiet service to the community and his 14 years of service as a Bardstown City councilman.
The event was sponsored by LG&E / KU. The dinner was catered by Schafer’s Catering with bar sponsorships from Jim Beam, Toddy’s Liquors, Willett Distillery, Markers Mark and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center.
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