Chamber of Commerce stuns 2015 Cornerstone Award recipient Emily Weil
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 23, 2015 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
David Weil, left, applauds as his wife, Emily, is named the recipient of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce's Cornerstone Award on Thursday night at the Walnut Creek Country Club.
Full Size
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Emily Weil thanks the crowd, obviously caught by surprise by the announcement.
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Chuck Allen, owner of Allen Grading Co., and a member of the Goldsboro City Council, comments after being presented the second annual Ollie Toomey Volunteer Service of the Year Award on Thursday night.
Emily Weil's first thought when she saw the photograph of herself projected onto the large screen at the Walnut Creek Country Club was where in the world had someone been able to find it.
"It was total amazement," she said. "It was like a high school annual picture. I looked up there and said, 'That's me!'
"That was my first clue -- 'What have they got me up there for?' I looked at (her husband) David, and he was just looking around."
Mrs. Weil had attended the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday night expecting her husband to speak -- not for her to become the second woman to receive the Chamber's prestigious Cornerstone Award.
Nor did Mrs. Weil realize that her family had been hiding elsewhere in the clubhouse while waiting for the surprise presentation.
"I didn't know any of them were here," she said. I couldn't see who they were (in the dimly lit back of the room), and my daughter was just waving. 'Who is that? Why is she waving?' She had to come and get me. I was standing up there and didn't know what I was supposed to do. I mean I haven't taken it in yet, really.
"At least I am moving around now. At first I was floating. My feet are touching the ground. But all of my buddies and my sister and these people came, and they were hiding somewhere. Can you believe that? And my husband didn't say a word."
She said she would let people know today if he was in trouble for not telling her. David Weil received the award in 2008.
The award, given annually since 1996, is presented to a member of the Wayne County community, living or deceased, who has given their all in service for the betterment of Goldsboro and Wayne County, said Dr. Scott LaFevers, the new chairman of the Chamber board.
The recipient must have long-term continuous service to Wayne County and significant impact on the overall betterment of the area, he said.
The person also must be considered part of the foundation of the area and may be involved in business, education, government or other areas, he said.
"You think you know her so well," said Margaret Boothe Baddour, who presented the award. "Then you see, listed on her resume, 'licensed pilot.' But you're not surprised, because of course, Emily flies planes.
"Around here, on land, everyone knows Emily for some activity that makes Wayne County better. She has worked tirelessly to promote downtown Goldsboro, preserve the history of the area, and enhance the quality of life around us."
Mrs. Weil is known for her love of history.
She is a member of the Wayne County Historical Society, the Colonial Dames, the Goldsboro Woman's Club and the David Williams Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Weil has served as president of the Arts Council of Wayne County and as chairman of Sunday in the Park.
She has published seven books and has donated the proceeds to the Wayne County Historical Association, Mrs. Baddour said.
She and her husband donated the historic Paramount Theater to the city, and Mrs. Weil spearheaded fundraising efforts to restore it.
"When our community lost the Paramount to a devastating fire, she did it all again," Mrs. Baddour said. "Emily's other love is music.
"She has a slew of awards for giving of herself, among them the Governor's Award for Volunteer Service, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and her recent induction into the North Carolinian Society."
The Cornerstone Award dedication for Mrs. Weil will be held Thursday, Jan. 29, at 11:30 a.m. at Cornerstone Commons in downtown Goldsboro.
In other business at the banquet, the second annual Ollie Toomey Volunteer Service of the Year Award was presented to Chuck Allen, owner of Allen Grading Co., and a member of the Goldsboro City Council.
The award recognizes a Chamber volunteer who goes above and beyond any expectations. It is named in honor of long-time past chamber executive director Ollie Toomey.
"It is an honor and I do put a lot of time in, but everybody puts a lot of time in," Allen said. "I am very appreciative. As I said, we all do our share. We all work hard.
"We have a lot of things to work on, and I just appreciate what everybody does to make our community what it is."
The award was presented by Rick Sumner, outgoing Chamber board chairman.
Sumner said Allen had spent "countless hours" working on different Chamber projects and had become a "valuable resource."
Allen has shown "exceptional commitment" to the Chamber and successfully helped it achieve its goals, he said.
Allen serves on the Chamber board and as a member of its Military Affairs Committee.
"He has been one of the top producers of the Chamber's Total Resource Campaign since its inception in 2011 and was the top producer this year with $28,750," Sumner said.
"He spends countless hours every week through his city appointment or charitable organizations he volunteers in and has become a go-to person within our community to get things done because of his dedicated passion and desire to help others."
Wayne Community College Small Business Center Awards were presented to:
* Startup of the Year Award: Jojo's Tea and Coffee Shop
* Small Business of the Year Award: Rain Barrels International
* Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Alta Foods
Also, Sharon Barber received the Ambassador of the Year Award. The Ambassadors are the Chamber's "premier volunteer organization," Sumner said. They act as hosts for Chamber events and serve as a resource between the Chamber and local business community, he said.