The Greater Salem Area Foundation and Mission Salem have announced this year’s Evening of Honors award recipients. The Evening of Honors recognizes the significant community contributions of individuals, organizations and businesses in Salem.
The recipients include:
- Long time State Farm Insurance Agent Rich Sinclair who is being honored as Boss of the Year.
- The Educator of the Year is lifelong educator Robin Brooks who is retiring at the end of the year as Selmaville School Superintendent.
- The Business of the Year is the ABC Pub which reopened last June following an extensive renovation.
- The Civic Achievement Award is being presented to Betty Purcell and Luke Purcell for their work on the Salem Historical Commission, including the opening of Salem’s first museum and the first Cemetery Tour.
- The Salem Lions Club is being honored as Civic Organization of the Year for their overall activities and contributions to the community.
- The Entrepreneur of the Year is Roy and Beth Landers for their work in developing the Iron Saddle.
- The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to lifelong retired minister Reverend Dr. Larry Shelton. While at Emmanuel Baptist Church, he was
instrumental in the formation of the Salem Area Foundation and Mission Salem. - The Mission Salem Business Partner of the Year is Modern Woodmen. Mission Salem’s Randy Donoho says Modern Woodman is responsible for providing about 75-percent of the funding for all the ramps constructed in Salem.
- The Mission Salem Volunteer of the Year is Vernon Rose of Omega. Since joining the organization about a year ago, he has helped start Mission South Central and has provided a huge machine shop to store lumber and allow ramp construction.
- Special recognition will be given to Dan Nichols and Bruce Jones with the Founders Awards. Both were integral in the establishment of the Greater Salem Area Foundation.
The 2022 Evening of Honors Banquet will be held on Thursday evening, March 31st at the Apostolic Church of Salem. Tickets to the event are now on sale by calling Melanie Johnson at Idyllwood Entertainment Center at 618-740-0600 to purchase tickets.
