Henderson Citizen of the Year Marty Swisher at Saturday's Community Recognition Awards.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
“Once a Tiger always a Tiger,” Former Douglas High School Principal Marty Swisher said wrapping up his remarks upon receiving the Bill Henderson Citizen of the Year award from the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce on Saturday night.
The Community Recognition Awards were conducted at the Carson Valley Inn in Minden and co-sponsored by The Record-Courier.
“I’m extremely humbled and honored to receive the citizen of the year award from the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce,” he said. “This award is named after Bill Henderson and that has a special place in my heart.”
Swisher coached Henderson’s child in eighth-grade basketball at Carson Valley Middle School.
“Bill was always super supportive, encouraging and really there,” Swisher said. “As I moved through my teaching and into administration, he continued to always encourage and support. I appreciated that about Bill. I always knew that Bill and Steve Chappell were only a phone call away.”
Swisher shouted out fellow honorees The Kids Fish Derby, which was named nonprofit of the year.
“I vividly remember taking (my sons) to the fishing derby and I think it was Joey who caught a big old fish one time, and it was magnificent,” he said, saying he was planning on volunteering next year.
To which organizer Tiffany Ellis replied that two of Swisher’s students were sitting at the Fishing Derby table.
When accepting the award on behalf of the group, organizer Stu Hill said volunteers are critical to the event’s success. With 1,200 children participating he urged the crowd to lend a hand.
Volunteer of the Year Elise Erickson, who has given 2,500 hours over the last five years to the Carson Valley Community Food Closet, said that organization could use some volunteers, too.
A Wildflower Florist was named Business of the Year. Owner Lori Britton got her start working as a teenager at Aladdin before striking out on her own.
“I get to take creation and turn it into emotion,” she said.
She thanked Laurie and Shannon Hickey who helped out with her business on multiple occasions.
Fromarc Insurance Agency’s Courtney Ahnlund is Employee of the Year.
“I would say every single employee looks to Courtney for her guidance,” Owner Christy Lyons wrote. “Because she is so well-versed, she is the employee I can count on to train any new employee. She takes so much pride in her job and our agency both at work and away, helping guide customers, family and friends through the process of insurance.
The theme for Saturday’s event was “A Roaring Good Time” and many attendees dressed in 1920s period costume.
Emcee Shannon Harris, who is director of the Carson Valley Swim Center, said she’d planned to wear an old-timey bathing suit complete with red and white stripes, but was dissuaded.
