Cornerstone plaques unveiled
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on January 28, 2009 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Family, friends and winners of Cornerstone Awards gathered Tuesday for the unveiling of plaques honoring the winners at Cornerstone Commons on Center Street. The awards are given annually by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.
Despite the rain Tuesday afternoon, more than 50 people came out to Cornerstone Commons to honor recipients of the Cornerstone Award.
Plaques recognizing the dozen or so Wayne residents who received the award have been inserted into the brickwork at the commons, formerly known as the Pedestrian Plaza.
The award is given annually by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce to a resident who has served their community with distinction.
"This life-long achievement award has been presented annually to an individual, living or deceased that has committed their all in service for the betterment of Wayne County," chamber Director Steve Hicks said during the brief ceremony.
And although an official award ceremony was held last month, the chamber, city of Goldsboro and the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. felt that they needed to do something extra for these community leaders. So, the groups had plaques made for each award winner.
"We are extremely pleased that this beautiful place where we are now gathered, hereafter referred to as Cornerstone Commons, will further acknowledge these award winners in a permanent and public way, so generations to come will realize that service to humanity is the best work of life," Hicks said.
"Each plaque placed here is made of granite and marble weighing 240 pounds. Each is inscribed with the name of the recipient and the following inscription -- 'In recognition of extraordinary effort and dedicated commitment to the principles of growth and expansion through dynamic leadership and whose attitude and example sets the standard of our membership and community.'"
Then Hicks listed the names of the award winners, names familiar to anyone who has lived in Wayne County for even a short period of time.
Winners include Richard B. Moffatt, Hal H. Tanner Sr., Clarence W. "Icky" Peacock, William A. Dees Jr., Hal K. Plonk, Bertha Shepherd Wooten, Ollie Toomey, Troy W. Pate Jr., Jimmie Edmundson, Bill Kemp Jr., Dr. Edward Wilson and David Weil.
This year's winner is Mt. Olive Pickle Co. President Bill Bryan.
After the plaques were unveiled, family members gathered around them, pausing to remember those who have passed and those who are still working to make Goldsboro and Wayne County a better place.