Chamber, Jaycees recognize volunteers
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on February 9, 2007 1:51 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Paul Smalley and the Rev. Chris Currie received Mount Olive's top honors Thursday night.
Smalley became the first person to receive the Lillian B. Langley Award for outstanding volunteer service to the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce. Calypso Presbyterian Church pastor Currie received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mount Olive Jaycees during the first joint banquet and appreciation ceremony held at Mount Olive College by the chamber and the Jaycees.
The chamber's Lillian B. Langley Award will go each year to a person who exemplifies Mrs. Langley's dedication and commitment to serving the chamber and the community. She was the chamber president for many years.
No matter what the role is, Paul Smalley steps in, said Stephanie Kornegay, the 2007 chamber board chairman when announcing him as the award's first recipient.
"We call him the running man. I've almost run him down a couple of times," she said about Smalley's tradition of running the trail around Westbrook Park early each morning.
Lula, his wife of 50 years, knew her husband was to receive the award for two months before Thursday's event, but managed to keep the secret.
"It was hard, because I love to talk," she said.
Smalley has been a member of the chamber since 1997 and has been volunteering for the organization from the first day. He is treasurer and community affairs chairman for the chamber and vice chairman of the Waylin Foundation, the chamber's charitable arm. He is also chairman of the chamber's N.C. Pickle Festival Cucumber Run.
Ernie Taylor, the chamber's 2008 chairman-elect and the 2004 DSA recipient, presented the Distinguished Service Award to the Rev. Chris Currie, who also serves as a board member for the Mount Olive Ministerial Association. Although Currie has been in the Mount Olive area a short time, he has lost no time in getting involved with volunteering, serving also as a North Duplin Elementary School reading mentor.
Other civic clubs presenting awards at the banquet included:
*Gena Knode presented the Outstanding Educator Award on behalf of the chamber to Jessica Shoneck, who received a Wayne County teacher's scholarship, graduated from East Carolina University and now teaches in Wayne County.
*Marjorie Connor, president of the Wayne and Duplin Business and Professional Women's Club, presented the Outstanding Teenager Award to Jeffery Bryan Turner for volunteer service. The award goes to a high school senior who has a grade point average of at least 3.0 and gives exemplary volunteer service in the community. Turner volunteers with several organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Knights of Columbus and the Relay for Life. He plans to major in political science and history and attend law school like his father, Carroll Turner.
*Kiwanis Club President Brooks Daly presented the Outstanding Farmer Award to poultry farmer Chris Daly, a Mount Olive native and graduate of N.C. State University. Daly holds a bachelor's degree in poultry science. He is an Eagle Scout and treasurer of the Carver PTSO.
*Exchange Club President Jeff Daughtry presented the Outstanding Public Servant Award to Chase Smith, a volunteer with the Mount Olive and South Mills volunteer fire departments and a Mount Olive College senior majoring in recreation with a minor in history and Christian education. He is goalie for the college's soccer team and president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
*Lions Club President Carol Weeks presented the Outstanding Senior Citizen Award to Dr. Hervy Kornegay. A Calypso native and retiree from the Calypso Fire Department, Kornegay was ranked one of the top 12 physicians in the United States. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 1963. He has served two terms on the Mount Olive College Board of Trustees and has been medical examiner for Wayne and Duplin counties.
*Rotary Club President Chris Whitley presented the Outstanding Boss of the Year to Steve Herring, editor at the Mount Olive Tribune. A Mount Olive native, Herring graduated from N.C. State and began his 30-year career in the news business.