Honey Grove Chamber Banquet names Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Farmer of the Year

Honey Grove, Texas - On Monday, April 3, 2006 the Honey Grove Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 71^st Anniversary with the 2006 awards banquet. The banquet was held at The Learning Center in downtown Honey Grove, filling the room with 218 guest and dignitaries.

Rev. Jerry Smith gave the invocation and blessed the food before everyone received a full course meal catered by Shumardii's Steak House Restaurant.

City of Honey Grove Mayor and Master of Ceremonies Fred Siebenthall opened the ceremony with the Acknowledgment of Dignitaries present at the banquet.

Mr Siebenthall and Linda Goss presented and introduced the recipient of the Honey Grove VFW Award, the Chamber of Commerce Special Award and Business of the Year to Abe Goldfarb. Mr. Goldfarb has spent many hours contributing to the improvement of Honey Grove and continues to help throughout his community on a daily basis.

Farmer of the Year was awarded to Sam Reece who has served the community of Honey Grove for generations.

Betty Sanderson announced that Citizen of the Year was awarded to Pasty Milton who was born in Paris but was raised and went to school in Honey Grove. Mrs. Sanderson read a letter from a Houston, Texas resident that wrote in to nominate Mrs. Milton. The letter stated that she was an exceptional woman and Christian. Mrs. Milton is a person who goes out of her way to help individuals throughout her community and stating how she makes a point to visit the residents at the Honey Grove Nursing Center weekly and she is known there as "Patsy Angel."

Throughout the night Mr. Siebenthall and John Derrell Hall Jr. drew for door prizes that were awarded to the lucky winners.

Betty Burke filled the room with piano melodies throughout the meal and Patty Hicks of Honey Grove entertained the crowd with beautiful favorites from years gone by.

The 2006 Honey Grove Chamber Officials that planned and worked as a team to put the event together consisted of Linda Goss -- President, Emily Austin -- Vice President, Bettye Sanderson -- Treasurer and Jean Ottmo -- Secretary.

The 2006 Honey Grove City Council Members are Bettye Sanderson - Mayor Pro-Tem, J.D. Atchley, Murray Jackson Leigh Dixon and Monte Ashcraft.

A special thanks was given to the Honey Grove City Hall, Westside Baptist Church for the use of their tables. Many thanks goes to Patriot Bank, Fannin Bank-Windom Branch, Smith Grocery, Bertha Voyer Library and Chamber members for selling the tickets to the banquet. The Honey Grove Chamber of Commerce would like to also express great appreciation to Jan Cummins for the use of The Learning Center, Richard Ohr, Dollar General and the Honey Grove Nursing Center for the door prizes. Special thanks also go to Boy Scout Troop 51. Thanks are given to the Bonham Wal-Mart for the flowers. Last but on lest a special appreciation to Mayor Fred Siebenthall. Betty Burke, Patti Hicks and everyone who helped make this the best banquet ever.

Former Citizens of the Year Recipients:

1966 Jack Shelton, 1967 Ansley Alexander, 1968 Frank Welch, 1969 Johnny Avery, 1970 R.T. Avery, 1971 J.V. Clayton, 1972 F.E. Clark, 1973 Joe Morrow, 1974 Charles Yarbrough, 1975 Ken Dailey, 1976 James Dupree, 1977 Earl Collins, 1978 Jimmy Doyle, 1979 Evelyn Wise, 1980 Lloyd Skinner, 1981 R.F. Voyer, 1982 Mary Anne Thurman, 1983 H.H. Milford, 1984 Gene Gandy, 1985 Bertha Voyer, 1986 H.L. Milton, 1987 Kermit Keeley, 1988 Jesse Smith, 1989 D.E. Shelton and John Dickson, 1990 Katherine Trout, 1991 Jan Cummins, 1992 Ruth Ramsey, 1993 Lloyd and Nina Nicholson, 1994 D.R. and Dixie Black, 1995 Toby Byrd, 1996 Mac and Neva Jo Siebenthal, 1997 Jon Banker, 1998 Abraham Goldfarb; 1999 Mary Fowler, 2000 Johnnie Smith, 2001 Bettye Sanderson, 2002 Terry Paul Cunningham, 2003 Peggye Fulcher, 2004 Wayne Parks, 2005 Clyde and Vera Mae Hall and the present 2006 recipient "Patsy Milton."