By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – Sarah Fletcher received the highest award given each year at the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet – the Tuckineer. The award is sponsored by Citizens Bank. Fletcher was described as one whose family was one of the first to settle in Tucker County and said she has a love for the county.
“I am speechless, and that doesn’t happen very often,” Fletcher said. “I want to thank everybody, the Tucker County Chamber, the businesses who very willingly donated for our fundraiser. It’s really nice.”
Fletcher said she wanted to dedicate her award to her parents.
“My grandfather came here from New England with a lumber company and stayed,” Fletcher said. “My father was born in Davis and he went to WVU, went out of the country for five years and moved back here to farm. He taught me a lot of things including the importance of helping people.”
The Educator of the Year Award is sponsored by Mountain Hospice. This year’s recipient is Jay Hamric, principal of Tucker County High School. Hamric said it was a great honor to be selected as educator of the year.
“I would like to acknowledge a few people who got me to this point,” Hamric said. “Margie and Jim Hamric. As the son of principals and teachers, sitting around the table when I grew up, I always thought there was no way I was going to be a principal or a teacher.”
Hamric said when he was in college he knew what he didn’t want to be.
“In my fifth year of college, I looked at the community my parents shaped and the lives they touched and made such an improvement – I asked what other service I could do. I discovered I wanted to be a teacher – it was in me, it was in my blood.”
Hamric said his parents were good role models and he thanked them and said he wanted to do something as powerful as his parents.
“Thank you for showing me the way,” Hamric said.
The Student of the Year is sponsored by Performance Motors and this year’s recipient is Seth Evans.
“I would first like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for selecting me for this award,” Seth said. “It is an honor to be here tonight. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their support in school. Without them I could not accomplish the things I did in sports and in the classroom. Finally, I would like to thank my teachers, administrators and coaches I have had over the years.”
Seth said he plans on getting a degree at Alderson Broaddus University and coming back to the community to teach, be a coach or an athletic director.
“I want to give back to the community I have grown to love dearly,” Seth said.
The Employee of the Year Award went to Rebecca ‘Becky’ Ray and was presented by Blackwater Falls State Park. Ray works at Mountaintop Realty.
“Thank you,” Ray said. “It makes it easy with all of my coworkers. Thank you very much.”
The Business Person of the Year was presented by Davis High Valley Realty to Victoria “Vicky” Weeks, owner of Verglas Media.
“I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for having this amazing event,” Weeks said. “I really hope to become known for what I do in the area. I am really glad we decided to move here. It’s hard to imagine being anywhere else.”
Weeks said in Tucker County, it’s always about the community.
“I feel very welcome to be here,” Weeks said. “Thank you for this award.”
Marvin E. “Bud” Parsons received the Community Service Award which was sponsored by Monongalia General Hospital.
“I want to thank the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce and the committee for this wonderful award and for honoring me for something I love to do,” Parsons said. “I do not work community service for honors. I share this award with many that are not recognized, but without their work and caring, our communities would not be what they are today.”
Tucker County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Scowcroft said the Awards Banquet is one of her favorite events of the year.
“It offers an opportunity to give back to the community and recognize those that do so much for our small community,” Scowcroft said. “It makes a big difference to be able to show and say thank you for their help.”
