The annual Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce sent a handful of community leaders, movers and shakers home with coveted awards, giving out honors to individuals and local small businesses.
Among the awards were the Peace Officer of the Year Award, the Small Businesses of the Year Award, Woman of the Year, Man of the Year, Pioneer Award and the Community Service Award.
The Montford Lynn Peace Officer of the Year Award is given each year to an officer who goes above and beyond his or her call of duty to create a safer community. This year two officers received the award, which is sponsored by The Post-Searchlight.
Investigator Chip Nix with the Bainbridge Public Safety Department and Special Agent Mike Walsingham with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were given the award for their work in bringing wanted criminals to justice in 2013.
“To be named with Captain Lynn that is such an honor, he is the standard to go by,” Nix said when receiving his award. Nix won the award in 2010 working for the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department.
“We have this saying we say we would rather be lucky than good any day, but in reality we that have been out there for a while know that there is no such thing as luck its about God and how he blesses us everyday to send us in the right direction and keep us safe,” Walsingham said.
The Pilot Club selects a Woman of the Year each year at the banquet. This year, June Faircloth was chosen.
Mary Gibson, Pilot Club member, said for the last 53 years the Pilot Club has given the award to someone who has contributed much community service.
Faircloth, who lost a child several years ago, is a small business owner and has organized a support group for parents who have lost children.
The Kiwanis Club chose Charles Bowles for the Man of the Year. Bowles is CEO for First Port City Bank and has held that position since 2006. He is chairman of the Bainbridge State College Board of Trustees and is involved with many organizations.
Roslyn Palmer was given the Community Service Award by the Chamber for her outstanding work in all arenas of Bainbridge volunteering. Most recently, Roslyn has worked with high school juniors and seniors, participating in a mentoring program and working to find the students scholarship opportunities.
Charles Tyson was given the Pioneer Award by the Chamber — a lifetime achievement award for the outstanding work in the community. This award is not given annually.
Tyson arrived in Bainbridge in 1996 and worked as Bainbridge City Manager, improved recreational facilities and worked with many non-profit organizations. As chairman of the chamber board, Tyson created a vision for recruiting industry that inspired others.
The small business award was given to Tony and Jerry Cooper with Cooper’s Heating and Air, a small business that works to invest themselves locally and brand themselves with good marketing techniques.