Parsons residents are honored for their accomplishments Sunday during the Celebrate Parsons banquet. Those pictured are back, from left, Ken Smith, Business Person of the Year; Jimmy Judy, Celebrate Parsons Person of the Year; Preston Simmons, Public Safety Officer of the Year; Jim Hebb, Employee of the Year; David Humphrey, and front, Tag Stiles, Most Courageous Person of the Year; Vera Auvil, Distinguished Senior Citizen of the Year; and Janice McDaniel, Volunteer of the Year.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Parsons is a beautiful place to live and work and on Sunday, hundreds of residents gathered to Celebrate Parsons and recognize some of their friends and neighbors for their accomplishments to keep Parsons on the move. The event was hosted by the Parsons Revitalization Organization ON TRAC, a volunteer-based non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Parsons.
Recognition awards were presented to Employee of the Year, Jim Hebb; Volunteer of the Year, Janice McDaniel; Business Person of the Year, Ken Smith; Public Safety Officer of the Year, Preston Simmons; Distinguished Senior Citizen of the Year, Vera Auvil; Most Courageous Person of the Year, Faye Tag Stiles; and Celebrate Parsons Person of the Year, Jimmy Judy.
The clean-up volunteers were recognized by Bonnie Swyter-Smith and include the Parsons Church of God, Hambleton United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, St. John’s United Methodist and Riverview Chapel.
Debbie Stevens served as emcee for the event. She recognized new business in Parsons including Brenda’s Backwoods Grill, Patriots 4 General Store and Grill, Soap City WV, Hattie Jane’s Old Thyme Primitives, J.B.’s Auto, Parsons Pizza and 7th Street Car Wash and Dog Wash.
A special award for being a friend of Parsons PRO ON TRAC was given to Dr. Cynthia Kolsun who helped Parsons move forward through grant writing and her time. David Humphrey was recognized for helping rescue folks during the 1985 flood, and for being a man about town.
The meal, featuring chicken and oak barrel marinated beef, was prepared by Jon and Paula Bush.
The Partnering Sponsor for Celebrate Parsons was David Hansford, Hansford Insurance. Supporting Sponsors include Bob Gutshall, State Farm Insurance; Bonnie and Ken Smith; Emily Whitaker; and Little Andi’s Restaurant.
Silent Auction donors include Alain Kieny, Andrea Felton, B.F. Long & Co., Bonnie & Ken Smith, Brenda’s Backwoods Grill, the City of Parsons, Cutting Edge Graphics, Five River Campground, Gifts to Go, Hattie Jane’s, Jivaka Wellness Center, Lafontaine Bakery, Kelly Cain, Mariwyn Smith, McClain Printing Company, Michael Ledden, Mountain State Honey Co., Phyllis Carr, the Purple Fiddle, Shop ‘n Save, Sydney Haltom, TipTop, The White Room Gallery and Wild Ginger and Spice.