Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Citizens, business receive awards at annual banquet

Four awards were handed out during the Gurdon Chamber of Commerces annual banquet on Tuesday, March 13 at the Gurdon High School cafeteria.

Of the four awards, one was new. According to Anita Cabe, the Chamber Appreciation Award was conceived by the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to honor a person in the community who might not be included in the other three award categories: teacher of the year, business of the year and citizen of the year.

John Pace, athletic director and coach at Gurdon High School, was the first to receive the award. Cabe described Pace as being hard-working and always willing to support the chamber and its efforts.

Cabe said Pace provided a great role model for the students he worked with and was always supportive of the community.

Pace provided a bit of comedy when accepting the award by saying I knew I wasnt here to be named teacher of the year.

The teacher of the year award, however, was presented to a teacher from Gurdon High School. Principal Lenard Gills presented the award to math teacher Mary Beck.

Gills said Beck has been a teacher at Gurdon High School since 1987 and had 14 years experience when she was hired.

Beck sponsors the Beta Club and is the coordinator for the junior/senior prom.

The 2007 business of the year award was presented to Thomersons Drug Store. Cabe said Thomersons is an avid supporter of the chamber of commerce. She said they always support chamber and community events.

Thomersons is also a supporter of Close-Up, a program at Gurdon High School. They also take part in the annual teacher appreciation breakfast and the chamber of commerce auction.

Doug Quillin, retired owner of Dougs Grocery, was named citizen of the year at the banquet. Cabe said Quillins nomination was due to his extensive work in the community, namely his work at the Gurdon Senior Activity Center. He is present each day to work at the center and on the vans which transport seniors to the center for meals and around town to run errands.

Quillin is also a member of the Gurdon Rotary Club.