Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mayor Howard Taylor Named Top Citizen At Chamber Banquet

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor was named Citizen of the Year at the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday, May 20.

Chamber president Mary Godwin read a long list of accomplishments attributed to Taylor, including family, church, industrial and municipal.

This year's Chamber theme, `Progress Under Construction' tied in well with Taylor's accomplishments.

Frances Thrasher received the Chamber's Treasure of Gold Award.

Thrasher was an educator for 47 years in the old Graysonia School District in Clark County as well as in Texarkana and Prescott.

Unable to attend, Billie McCain accepted the award on her behalf.

The Chamber also honored several of its teachers in the county as well as the Nevada County Farm Family. Entertainment was provided by Beth Anne Rankin, a former Miss Arkansas. David Bazzel of KARK TV in Little Rock was the speaker.

Pearl Bailey and Joyce Westmoreland received Prescott School District's highest honors; Pat Loe received Emmet's; and Gloria Elliot received the award from Nevada.

Dr. Gene Ross, superintendent of the Emmet School District, presented Loe with her award. He said she helps make Emmet the school it is. Loe, who has been teaching at Emmet 10 years, teaches reading recovery teacher. Dr. Ross said her task is for the "betterment of the kids."

Natalie Sherwood, principal of Nevada Elementary School, said Elliot was an "inspirational teacher."

Both of Prescott's teachers teach at the middle school.

Don Johnston, superintendent of Prescott School District, said Bailey believed "There's a winner in everyone." She is active in the `At Risk' program and the `Boys to Men' program. She is sweet and a good motivator, Johnston said. He said one student said she "is like a second parent to me."

Johnston said Westmoreland "truly, truly cares for her students." He said the sixth grade science teacher was dedicated and loyal, she prepared fun and interesting lessons for her class.

Rankin entertained with two songs, `Your Place for Me,' a song she wrote, and `Battle Hymn of the Republic.'

Bazzel, who is also a consultant for Fourth Quarter Productions, talked briefly about his tenor with the Arkansas Razorbacks football program. He played for Lou Holtz and Ken Hatfield.

He admonished the listeners to "look for the gift God has given you."

Bazzel encouraged all to grow, never be afraid, laugh at yourself, beleive in yourself, never give up and do better in your business. He said one sould always ask, listen and grow, and that one should not stop growing.

"Failure is part of it (growing)," he said. "We must evaluate risk vs. the return. If you fail laugh at yourself."

Godwin said about the Citizen of the year, "Over the years he has worked to raise funds" for various sports functions, including the upgrading of the sports facilities at City Park. She said a basketball court has been built at the park for the Coop Hoop games during the Chicken and Egg Festival. She said he was also instrumental in building a pavilion and renovating the tennis courts in the park.

Citing his involvment in securing industrial, economic and business development, she said "he wants big things to happen and works to see them happen." She said he had secured $5 million in grant funds which have been or will be used to loop the present and futre city water system and create 34 new manufacturing jobs.

He has assisted "in construction of 12 single family duplex units for low and very low income cizites," she said. In addition, he has hired an additional patrolman for the Prescott Police Department.

Godwin said Taylor worked with Hines Trucking Company in obtaining a recycling equipment tax credit. In turn Hines has expanded to create a new company, Hines Wood Fiber Recovery and Processing, Inc., to recover wood waste products, which created six new jobs.

Under his tenor Ward Wood Products has expanded to add 12 new jobs, Godwain said.

Potlatch has completed a $15,500,000 expansion since Taylor has become Mayor, she said. The company will add a new second shift at the Ozan Unit, which will create numerous other transportation service jobs.

"He was a hard-working member of the team whose goal was to obtain A.C.E. certification for the city of Prescott," she said. Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE) is sponsored by the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission.

She named three ventures he has helped to recruit for Prescott: Rip Griffin Truck Travel Center (construction to be begin later this year); Red River Knitting Company (in the former Prescott Manufacturing building); and St. Michael Health Care Center, which announced recently it would be a large clinic near the old Nevada County Hospital site.

She said Taylor has helped with projects that have brought approximately $23 million in new investments. Godwin said approximately 200 jobs have already or will be created withing the next two years. In addition, he has promoted beautification projects for the city, she said.

"He is very responsive to the concerns, needs and problems of the residents of Prescott and cares about our welfare," she said in her closing remarks.

Everett and Anice Ward, Nevada County's Farm Family, were given a plaque from the Bank of Prescott, honoring the Ward family for 49 years of farming. John Brannan Jr., presidnet of the bank, presented the awards to the Ward family. The Wards were also owners of Ward's Thriftway before selling several years ago to William and Karen Taylor.