Chamber honors Welge, Hollaway for work with community
Chester residents Tom Welge and Lee Hollaway were honored for their work in the community by the Chester Chamber of Commerce during its annual dinner June 22.
Welge, vice president of technical sales and general counsel for the Gilster Mary Lee Corp., received the chamber's 2018 Business Citizen of the Year Award. Chamber Vice President Gwendy Garner presented the award, noting Welge is a past president and vice president of the Chester Chamber. He is an active member of Chester's River City Renewal Commission and the Chester First Club.
"In all involvements he provides valuable wisdom and guidance, based on his personal and professional experience and knowledge. He is the very first to say, 'I'll do it', and then he does," Garner said.
Welge is currently vice president of the Chester Board of Education and a member of the board of directors of Buena Vista National Bank. In 2014 Welge organized Trips For Kids - River Ratz Cycling, Inc., providing transformative cycling experiences for the region's underserved youth. The group is a 501C3 charity and an official chapter of the national Trips for Kids organization.
An officer of the Mississippi Landmark organization, Welge is also a partner in Chester's new St. Nicholas Landmark restaurant and tap room which is expected to open this summer at Chester's riverfront.
"After months of rehabbing the property and special attention to maintaining the historic integrity of the building, this project will result in a much needed dining destination for the citizens of Chester and the surrounding community," Garner said.
Hollaway received the 2018 Community Citizen of the Year award from Ed Fisher and Chester Mayor Tom Page.
Page told the audience that Hollaway is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a 31-year member of Chester American Legion Alva Courier Post, as well as a 30-year member of Chester's VFW Kaskaskia Post. Through these memberships, he volunteers much of his time to the various activities of the service units, such as calling bingo, cooking, or working fish frys.
In 2014, Hollaway received the local VFW Citizen of the Year award. He directs the local Toys For Tots program for the Marine Corp League. During the holidays, he organizes a program that delivers gifts to homebound veterans and to those residing at area nursing homes. He continues to represent the Marine Corps League by participating in honor guard activities for parades, funerals, and military grave site ceremonies. For four years, he was a member of Memorial Hospital's volunteer program and he is an active volunteer for the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry.
Fisher spoke about Hollaway's extensive military career, including six years of active duty in the Marines, including time in Cambodia. After his return to the U.S., Hollaway served with a reconnaissance organization, a group that Fisher compared to the Navy SEALs or Army Rangers. He stated that at a time when it is getting harder and harder to secure military honor guard units for funerals and other events, Hollaway is dedicated to seeing that this service is provided. Fisher also referred to Hollaways dedication to the Toys For Tots program, calling his work "unrelenting and tireless devotion."
Chamber President Jason Coffey awarded its $1,000 scholarship to Taylor Howie, a 2018 Chester High School graduate. Howie thanked the chamber for their generosity. She is the daughter of Jim and Laura Howie of Chester.
During the evening, Coffey also introduced incoming president Gwendy Garner and additional officers for the coming year, Vice President Bob Welker and Treasurer Bruce Luthy, Jr. Linda Sympson continues as the organization's executive director.
Those in attendance were asked to save the following dates in the coming months for chamber activities: Steak Dinner fundraiser, Saturday, Aug. 25, Chester Eagles Club; Status of Chester Bridge Lunch Program, noon Sept. 18, Chester Eagles; Annual Golf Tournament, Oct. 6, Chester Country Club; and Chicken Dinner fundraiser, Nov. 9, K.C. Hall, Chester.