During the 99th annual Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce banquet and awards celebration Friday evening, the chamber honored the late Stuart Powell with its Legacy Award — only the ninth one ever bestowed by the organization.

According to the chamber, the Legacy Award “is given to honor an individual whose life left an indelible mark on our community.”

Powell, who died in early September last year, had been in the car business for nearly 68 years and owned the Stuart Powell Ford Lincoln Mazda dealership. He was also known for his passion for aviation and had worked tirelessly for decades to build and develop the Danville-Boyle County Airport.

In accepting the Legacy Award, his daughter Patti Powell said her dad always said, “Nothing ever happens until you sell something … It has to start somewhere, and it starts with people selling a car, selling health care, selling education — it comes from somewhere. And it’s what you do with it that matters.”

Citing a quote from Winston Churchill, Powell said, “We make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give.”

“We’ve got lots of examples in this room tonight, of people who give and continue to give,” she said. “Don’t forget to continue to make a difference, make the time, make the effort to keep giving, because that’s what matters.”

Others who received recognition and awards at the annual celebration include:

• Joey Harris — Outstanding Citizen Award: According to the chamber, this award is given to someone who has volunteered hundreds of hours to benefit their community and its residents. Harris is plant manager at Denyo and serves on its board of directors. Harris has served as vice-chairman of the local chamber and chairman of the Danville-Boyle County Challenge Foundation. He chairs the Industrial Council and serves on the Danville-Boyle County Industrial Foundation and the Pioneer Vocational Services board. He is past board director of the Associated Industries of Kentucky, which is now known as the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. Harris was recently appointed by the governor to represent all Kentucky industries as a board member of the Kentucky Center for Pollution Prevention. He and his wife, Ann Clay, also own A & L Accessories on Main Street, where they support the Community Arts Center’s gallery hops and other Main Street events.

• Donna Fechter — Community Impact Award: This award recognizes those who respond to a community’s specific need and takes action that impacts the residents in significant ways. Fechter is the Boyle County Solid Waste Management director. “By her dedication and tireless service, and through efforts of environmental preservation and education, Donna has made a very real difference in the quality of life enjoyed by all who live in Danville/Boyle County,” according to the chamber.

• Dennis Short — Outstanding Business Person: This award is presented to “an individual for community service, civic leadership, personal character, peer respect and chamber involvement.” Short and his wife Callie own Bluegrass Chiropractic in Danville and have opened 10 offices throughout the state with 33 employees and 16 doctors. Bluegrass Chiro is the largest chiropractic group in the state.

 

• Bob Allen Motor Mall, Bob Allen — Outstanding Large Business (50 or more employees): This award is given to a business based on its growth, appearance, community service and chamber participation. Bob Allen Motor Mall began operation in 1989 with 18 employees and three vehicle franchises. Today, the dealership has seven new vehicle franchises, a used car annex and employs more than 100 people in its Danville and Frankfort locations.

Allen and his wife Kathy are also active supporters of several community organizations and festivals. They also help support local fundraisers. In addition, Bob Allen Motor Mall supplies driver education cars for Boyle County High School and Kentucky School for the Deaf. The Bob Allen Pigskin Classic is also sponsored by the business.

• Wilderness Trail Distillery, Shane Baker and Dr. Patrick Heist — Outstanding Small Business (less than 50 employees): This award is given to a business for its growth, appearance, community service and chamber participation. “Since its inception, Wilderness Trail Distillery has grown to become the 14th largest producer of bourbon whiskey in the world and currently markets Blue Heron Vodka and Harvest Rum, which have grown as successful brands,” according to the chamber. The distillery’s fully aged, “bottled in bond” bourbon is scheduled to be released in April.

Wilderness Trail Distillery hosts thousands of visitors each year and it is active in the Boyle County community, hosting various charitable fundraisers.

• Elizabeth “Fizzy” Ramsey — Outstanding Volunteer Award: This award is presented to someone for their dedication to community service for an non-profit organization. Ramsey is a physician assistant at an internal medical practice. She also volunteers as a preceptor for medical and physician assistant students. Because of her love of animals, Ramsey served on the Danville-Boyle County Humane Society board of directors and was elected as president. Ramsey also volunteers many hours to the animal shelter by organizing fundraisers, cleaning kennels, landscaping, washing dogs and seeking more volunteers for the shelter.

Other award winners include:

The Bruce Montgomery Leadership Alumni Award — Lisa Knetsche

Rising Star Award — Patrick Noltemeyer

School Bell Award — Paula Piazza, Boyle County Schools; Kim Kernen, Danville Independent Schools; and Debbie Martin, Kentucky School for the Deaf.