By Ray Dyer/Staff writer

Vince Orza, dean of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University, said for a community to grow and attract residents and businesses, it must have a top-notch public school system. He said it must also have leaders and citizens who are not afraid to take chances. Orza was the keynote speaker at the 97th annual El Reno Chamber of Commerce Banquet, held June 26 at The Palace, 2310 N. Banner Road.

A number of El Reno residents were recognized during the banquet for their contributions to the community, including Helen Miner, who received the Roy Stevenson Meritorious Service Award, and Codie Lee Finnigan, who was named Citizen of the Year.

Karmon Stanley, chamber director, said a portion of the money earned from the banquet and auction will be used to create a memorial scholarship in the name of the late Leslie F. Roblyer. The legendary El Reno school superintendent died this spring.

“Mr. Roblyer paid his chamber dues only two weeks before he died,” Stanley said. “He was a very faithful member of the chamber.”

While Orza, an unsuccessful candidate for governor, offered plenty of wit and wisdom, it was El Reno Mayor Matt White and City Manager Tony Rivera who stole the show. Rivera paid $350 for the privilege of smashing a cream pie into White’s face. The pie was the final item offered during the dessert auction conducted by White. In an effort to raise more money for the Chamber of Commerce, White offered the pie-in-the-face gimmick, much to the delight of the audience. A grinning Rivera hugged White after planting the pie squarely in his face.

“That’s for the last City Council meeting,” Rivera laughed as he wiped pie off his own shirt.

Below are brief biographies about the citizens honored by the chamber.

2008 Chamber Community Awards

TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Gina Gay Emanuel

Emanuel attended El Reno Public Schools and El Reno Junior College. She received her bachelor’s of science degree in elementary education from the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band as a member of the Flute Choir.
She began her teaching career in 1985 at Irving Kindergarten and received her master’s of education-reading specialist from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1989 and completed her early childhood certification at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1990.

POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR: Detective Dennis Parker

Parker has been a member of the El Reno Police Department for two years and has served in the investigation division for 18 months. Parker is credited for arrests in multiple felony cases. He was selected at large by his peers and supervisors as Officer of the Year.

Firefighter of the Year: Jason Duff

Duff is a 10-year veteran of the El Reno Fire Department, where he currently holds the rank of driver. Duff’s professional accomplishments include Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter I & II certification, Hazardous Materials Operations, Advanced Open Water Diver as well as High Angle and Trench Rescue certifications.
Duff has devoted countless hours in educating the youth of El Reno and surrounding areas as fire prevention coordinator for the El Reno Fire Department. Each year he and other members of the department visit all the local grade schools to teach fire safety. He also volunteers with Youth and Family Services, Russell-Murray Hospice and the American Red Cross.
He and his wife, Melody, have three sons and are members of Wesley Methodist Church.

EMS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Patricia K. Vogt

Vogt has been an EMT Intermediate with Parkview Hospital for more than nine years. She serves the response area on the 3-11 shift as an intermediate and emergency vehicle operator. She is responsible for the care, inspection and operation of the ambulances that respond to El Reno and the surrounding areas. She works daily to assure the units respond to emergency calls in a safe and rapid fashion. She brings advanced airway and IV skills to the patients in this community and has a talent for anticipating what the paramedics will need when treating a critical patient.
Vogt “exemplifies versatility as she is able to quickly switch roles from vehicle operator to primary caregiver to ambulance patients or to support the responding crews as the dispatcher.” Her duties include supporting patients in the hospital while monitoring multiple patients’ conditions and coordinating the after-hours care of home health patients.
Vogt’s family has strong roots in health care as her daughter is an ultrasound technician and her son is a firefighter-EMT. Her husband, Larry, supports her in her role and takes great pride in her ability to help others.

PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR: Commissioner Grant Hedrick

Canadian County District 3 Commissioner Grant Hedrick has done a number of things to help his constituents in El Reno. In addition to allowing the city to use the district’s equipment, Hedrick’s department has helped the city on numerous projects.
Hedrick commits his time to several economic development efforts, including the El Reno Economic Development Partnership and the Canadian County Economic Partnership. He is always willing to listen to any idea or plan that helps the public in efforts to better Canadian County and the city of El Reno.

CITY EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Jim Luckett Jr.

Luckett began his work for El Reno in 2002. Luckett has been instrumental in completing numerous projects, but the elimination of traditional department lines may have led to the most improvements. Previously, departments had more defined boundaries and were less apt to help one another. Luckett has assisted in breaking down the invisible borders and encouraging departments to share labor and equipment. This has dramatically improved overall efficiency and increased the level of service to the community.
Luckett has worked to forge positive relationships with Canadian County and is credited with doing an “excellent job of coordinating Union City Correction Center trustees.” This has led to aesthetic improvements that many have noticed. He has helped to put pride back in several city-owned venues.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Ann Biggert Smith

Volunteers are one of our most valuable resources and are essential for a healthy, vibrant community. Ann Smith’s story of volunteerism is about community involvement, hard work and personal dedication. She currently serves as a volunteer for Historic Fort Reno, El Reno Main Street, El Reno Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership. In addition to serving organizations, she has volunteered for numerous community events. She mans the information booth at Burger Day, assists with the Heritage and Arts Festival and participates in Fort Reno’s Ghost Tours. She serves as an example of true volunteerism and is an inspiration to all.
Smith has a deep and broad record of service to El Reno that spans the last 20 years. She is the consummate volunteer leader.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Codie Lee Finnigan

Finnigan has an unmatched enthusiasm for El Reno. She goes far above and beyond the call of duty for what each job requires, including this year’s Burger Day, which was the biggest ever. Finnigan is an excellent partner with the chamber and other organizations in numerous functions, events and festivals. This is not because she must, but because she believes in more than an event or an organization … she believes in El Reno. Few people know that Finnigan has a personal policy of only shopping locally owned stores whenever possible.
Finnigan demonstrates a consistent and superlative concern for improving El Reno on every level. She is on the CIP executive committee, providing oversight to nearly $30 million in capital and recreation improvements for El Reno.

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR: El Reno Beautification Committee

Individually, these ladies came to the city requesting permission to help clean up the city. It was decided to bring them all under one umbrella and call them the El Reno Beautification Committee. These ladies have dedicated their time, labor and wisdom to improve the image of our city. Some of their projects include Legion Park Chisholm Trail marker, the Highway 81/Highway 66 entrance, design and ideas for the entrance at Country Club Road, planters for corner beautification at Rock Island and Elm, the flower bed by the Lake El Reno flag pole, and planning and design for Petree Plaza. They work hand in hand with city employees and have made great strides in making El Reno a beautiful place to live.
Members include Bobette Steanson, Judy Hamby, Lynda Fogg, Saundra Van Horn and Sandy Beard.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Medicine Chest Pharmacy

Willard Holsted purchased Medicine Chest Pharmacy in 1969. Since moving to El Reno, he has been committed to improving the quality of health care in our community in so many ways. He not only provides 50 hours of service weekly to his patients, but is always ready to come up after hours whenever called. He served on the Parkview Hospital board of directors for 23 years, El Reno City Council and El Reno Chamber of Commerce.
Medicine Chest is a charter member of El Reno Main Street, receiving many local, state and national awards. Medicine Chest Pharmacy, amid rising fuel prices, still offers free delivery to all of its customers. They now have a full gift line and offer free bridal lists and free gift wrapping. Holsted hires local high school and college students to work part time, giving them the chance to earn money and work in an amazing profession.

ROY STEVENSON MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD: Helen C. Miner

Miner was a music/choral teacher for the El Reno School District from 1965-1996. In her 31 years of teaching, she was a loving and positive influence on all of her students. She was the contract auxiliary chapel musician at the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution from 1959-1989. From 1989 to the present, she volunteers one evening per week for rehearsals for the two prison unit choirs and provides the music as conductor and pianist each Sunday. Miner serves on the board of directors for the El Reno Community Clinic and has been an active member of the Damrosch Music Club since 1996. She is very involved in her church services and charitable works. Miner and her husband, Clifford, have two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.