Chamber spotlights achievers

By DEBBIE KNOX Publisher/Editor dnox@campcountynow.com

Several local citizens were honored with achievement awards before a full house at the annual Pittsburg-Camp County Chamber awards banquet held last Thursday night at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Coming away with top awards were Gary Bicknell for man of the year, known as the Dr. P. A. Reitz Memorial Award; Angela Johnson as woman of the year, known as the Drucilla Pruitt Memorial Award; James Wallace Law Firm as business of the year; Patrick Lloyd as educator of the year; agriculture award known as the Aubrey E. Pilgrim Award went to the owners of Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards; and volunteer(s) of the year was presented to the Pittsburg High School DECA Club. Mike Reynolds, who was last year’s recipient of the Dr. P. A. Reitz Award, told an emotional story of the dedication of the late doctor to his patients and the community as did David Abernathy who emceed the chamber awards event. Mr. Reynolds said Mr. Bicknell had many of the same qualities of Dr. Reitz and his service to the community. “This year’s recipient has served this community in numerous roles: he has participated in ‘The Spirit of Pittsburg during Pittsburg Pioneer Days; he has served on the Independence Day Blast Committee for several years; he is a past member of the Kiwanis Club; he supports the honors program at the Northeast Texas Community College; he has been the Camp County Chamber of Commerce President and served as president for the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum,” Mr. Reynolds said. “This gentleman began his Cypress Banking career in 1984 and became the president at age 33.”

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