The Lee County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 26th Annual Chamber Banquet on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the Bindery at Oakland Library. At this banquet, we honor various people and businesses throughout the area. We need your help as Chamber members in selecting these deserving individuals.

The following are the award categories: Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Partner in Agriculture, Partner in Education, Ambassador of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award must fall into the below criteria:

1. Person/Business must live/serve in Lee County

2. Include accomplishments and contributions for the past five years

3. Not an elected official

4. Not a board member of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce

5. Cannot be deceased (except for Lifetime Achievement Award)

To nominate a business leader you know, email Leslie Barbosa at [email protected]

Past winners:

Man of the Year: Dr. Robert Clay (01), Page Tharp (02), W. F Griffin (03), Eddy Meeks (04), Lee Stanley (05), Len Whittle (06), Eddie Hinman (07), Greg Crowder (08), Rev. Michael Lyons (09), Fred Finney (10), Bill Turoski (11), Kevin Dowling (12), Gene Goldsmith (13)

Woman of the Year: Pat Manning (01), Ida Chambers (02), Patricia Tharp (03), Lynne Jones (04), Judy Powell (05), Tara Okon (06), Tammy Howell (07), Elaine Ruckel (08), Carolyn Meeks (09), Ann E. Nix (10), Diana Helton (11), Patsy Shirley (12), Dotty Davis (13)

Partner in Education: Wendy Martin (01), Dr. Robert Clay (02), Opal Cannon (03), Elaine Ruckle (04), Robby Davis (05), Connie Grebel (06), Kathy Wooten (07), Sylvia Vann (08), Sandra Parker (09), Dr. Jeannie Johnson (10), Martha Dye (11), Frank Griffin (12), LCHS NJROTC (13)

Partner in Agriculture: Roy Goodson (01), Jack Miller (02), Hiram Usry (03), Tom Sumners (04), Pete Griffith (05), Harold Hobbs (06), Henry Griffin (07), Billy King (08), Tim Sumners (09), T & T Farms (10), David Byrd (11), McCleskey Mills (12), Richard Grebel (13)

Business of the Year or Business Person of the Year: Buffalo Rock (01), Sumter EMC (02), Evard Dodge (04), Jenkin’s Supermarket (05), Tri-County Ag, Inc. (06) , Leesburg Animal Hospital (07), Lee Cheshire (08), CTSI (09), Chem-Nut (10), Lee County Auto Service (11), Matrix Department (12), Java the Hut (13)

Non-Profit of the Year: Lee Branch YMCA (08), Southwest Georgia Therapeutic Riding Center (09), Megan’s House (10), Leesburg Explorers (11), Lee County Retired Educators (12), Fifth Friday Foundation (13)

Lifetime Achievement Award: J. M. Rhodes (04), R.S. Boney (05), Mr. Jonathan W. Fox, Sr. (06), Opal Cannon (07), Dr. Robert A. Clay (08), Mary Wilson (09), Jack Miller (10), Larry Walden (12), George Pressley Sr. (13)