Sanders named Citizen of the Year at annual Chamber banquet

By Dan Gordon

Athens resident Richard Sanders was named Citizen of the Year at the annual Athens Chamber of Commerce Banquet Friday night.

The Citizen of the Year award is presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce to the resident who displays commendable commitment to Athens and the surrounding community.

Sanders, the District 5 regional director for U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling, has been a member of the Athens Rotary Club since 1990. He also serves on the board of the Rainbow Room and the Athens Booster Club, and was mediator and secretary for the Henderson County Citizens Jail Committee, which was vital in securing a bond election to enlarge the Henderson County Jail.

Other causes he’s thrown in for include the American Cancer Society, the East Texas Crisis Center and the Henderson County YMCA.

“He’s just an excellent man,” Chamber of Commerce President Gus Flener said. “He’s done a lot of great work in this community.

“He’s an exemplary person.”

Sanders was selected by a committee made up of Steve Grant, Ken Braswell, Carol Barton, Tere Lawyer and Rusty Workman, the past five citizens of the year. Workman, the 2005 Citizen of the Year, presented Sanders with his award.

In his speech, Workman gave a brief rundown of the public works Sanders has supported. He added that Sanders served an important role in keeping the city in contact with happenings in Washington, D.C.

“He serves a role as a builder of communications ... as a liaison between us constituents and our representatives in Washington,” Workman said.

“Wow,” Sanders said upon taking the stage. “There are very few times in my life I’ve been speechless. Just ask my wife, Kathy.”

He added that one of his favorite things about working for Hensarling was telling people he was from Athens.

“I tell people I’m from Athens, and their eyes light up,” he said. “Then they tell me stories about Athens.

“They’ll talk about going to the Fiddler’s Reunion and about the great time they had. Or they’ll talk about visiting our beautiful arboretum or our fish hatchery.

“There are a lot of people here now ... who have made all this possible.”

“I’m just very humbled and very honored,” Sanders said after the banquet. “I just think Athens is a great place to live, a great place to raise a family.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of this community. I’m just very excited.”

Other awards presented at the banquet included:

• Teacher of the Year: Bettye Dunnington;

• Ambassador of the Year: Linda Sifford;

• Ambassador of the Year first runner-up: Suzan Stutts;

• Ambassador of the Year second runner-up: Marlena Taylor;

• Business of the Year: Workco Staffing Service;

• Corporate Sponsor of the Year: First State Bank of Athens; and

• Community Spirit Award: The Athens High School Varsity football team and coaches.

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e-mail dgordon@athensreview.com

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