-
Patricia Ann Robertson, otherwise known as “Miss Pat,” speaks after being honored with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2020 Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Banquet Jan. 23. Photo by Mary Cryer Awalt -
Fairfield Mayor Kenneth Hughes (left) presents the Fairfield City Employee of the Year award to City Secretary Misty Richardson (right). Photo by Mary Cryer Awalt -
Mexia High School student and upcoming recording artist Alysa Carrizales performs during the 2020 Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Photo by Richard Nelson
“A Red Carpet Affair” took over the Depot X Event Center Jan. 23, as the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Award Banquet. Attendees from different businesses and organizations in Fairfield came together for a dinner and ceremony honoring the city’s most impactful citizens.
The audience entered the ceremony to a literal red carpet, complete with rope railings on the sides and photographers ready to picture the well-dressed community members. Attendees took their seats at assigned tables to the sounds of Mexia High School student Alysa Carrizales, who also performed with her guitar during dinner.
Beginning the awards portion of the ceremony was Board Chair Gail Farish, who presented the Ambassador of the Year award to Kris Simmons of Fairfield Lake State Park. This followed with the awarding of Small Business of the Year to NAPA Auto Parts- Bayless Auto Supply.
The Community Spirit award was presented to Lisa Underhill, a social leader in the Fairfield community. Moving to the city from Kalamazoo, MI, in 2016, Underhill “blossomed into a socially active member of [the] community.” She currently works both at Fairfield Brookshires, as well as the Nursing Home Ministry, providing support for local nursing homes.
Fairfield Rotary Club Officer Angela Oglesbee was selected as Citizen of the Year, an award for her work with Rotary Club, the Friends of the Fairfield Library, the FBC Upward program, as well as Fairfield ISD Rotary Interact Clubs. Her involvement in the Friends of the Library program, which includes fundraising and participation to improve the Fairfield Library, was “very instrumental” in getting the organization started.
The Business of the Year award went to Freestone Medical Center, an organization that participated in multiple sponsorships throughout 2019. In May, the Center sponsored a Lemonade Day program, as well as Boys’ Baseball and Girls’ Softball leagues. During the holiday season, FMC sponsored both the Festival of Trees at Fairfield Library and Fairfield Lake State Park’s Christmas in the Park event.
A unique award for 2020, being the beginning of a new decade, was the selection of the Business of the Decade award. The honor went to Community National Bank & Trust, an ongoing Chamber of Commerce Platinum member that was chosen in 2019 as one of Texas Monthly’s best companies to work for in Texas.
Donating and sponsoring a plethora of community organizations, Community National raised over $60,000 of various charities in 2019 through the employee-directed “Casual for Charity” program. The program sees employees contribute donations throughout the year for the option to wear jeans on “casual” Fridays. Donations earned from the fund went to groups such as Freestone Cancer Support Group and the Southern Oaks Volunteer Fire Department.
One of the night’s biggest awards was the Lifetime Achievement honor, going to Patricia Ann “Miss Pat” Robertson. The long-time nurse has been a “proud resident” of Fairfield for the vast majority of her 86-year life cycle, working in the health industry after gaining a “temporary” hospital job in 1952. Retiring in 2010, Robertson is still an active community member, including residing as the longest standing First Baptist Church member, serving on various FBC committees.
Honored with the Legacy award were the couple of Pastor Spain and Sister Bettye Trask. The couple has “touched so many lives of people along their journey in life and ministry,” leaving a “rich legacy” among citizens worldwide.
The night ended with the awarding of Fairfield ISD awards by Superintendent Dr. Jason Adams. Elementary Teacher of the Year went to first grade instructor Amy Graves, Intermediate Teacher of the Year was Brittany Sanders, High School Teacher of the Year was Accounting/ Technology instructor Davin Davis, and High School Student of the Year was Conor Davis.
Other awards given during the night were City of Fairfield Employee of the Year (handed to City Secretary Misty Richardson) and the Civic Organization of the Year (awarded to Kindness From Case Memorial Foundation).
To coincide with the “Red Carpet” theme, George and Virginia Robinson shared the Best Dressed award.
In addition to the dinner and ceremony, five different cakes were auctioned off, with bids regularly passing the $500 mark from the audience.