Annual Banquet Report

October 30, 2009

A local book store manager was named Citizen of the Year at the 16th annual Keene Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday night at the Committee of 100 Cafeteria at Southwestern Adventist University.

Mickey Johnson — who has served lengthy and productive terms as chairman of the school boards at Keene Adventist Elementary School and Chisholm Trail Academy — was honored for his longtime service to Keene’s private schools, his service as one of the original founders of the Keene Christmas Light Parade, his position as parade starter and his recognition last year as Southwestern Adventist University Alumnus of the Year.

Robert Bischoff received the first awarding of the Phillip Sparks Memorial Helping Hands Award.
Linda Becker and Ben Jones were recognized as Educators of the Year.
Mark Miosi, developer of Northside Station business center and retail area, received the Community Improvement Award.
Mary Ortiz, received the Community Service Award for founding the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Longtime Keene resident Robert Mendenhall received the Pioneer Award, which is presented to an organization or individual whose long-ago contributions and influence helped make Keene what it is today.
Jorge Velez, manager of the Adventist Book Center Food Store and owner of JVL Expressions Photography, received the Young Entrepreneur Award.
Phil Robertson and Velez received the Chamber Service Award for their three years of service to the Keene Chamber board of directors.

Guest speaker Scott Murray, former Emmy Award-winning sports anchor at NBC Channel 5, author and motivational speaker, talked about what it takes to succeed and about sports legends he has known.

“I am humbled and surprised,” Johnson said. “Keene is the greatest place to live and raise a family and I owe a lot to our city. I am pleased to be able to give back through service what Keene has given to me. It is a pleasure to serve Keene.”

This is the 14th year for the Chamber to recognize a “Citizen of the Year,” with Johnson being the 16th recipient.

Past honorees are the late V.O. Schneider, Jessie Small, Bugger Putnam, Gary Heinrich, Wayne Tomblinson, Phil Hooten, the late Sam Capps, Ray Nichols, Russ Laughlin, James Minor, Robert Cooper, Sharan Boelter, Yddo Ortiz, Tim Sinclair and Bill Guinn.

The award presented to Bischoff was named in memory of Phillip Sparks, who helped set up equipment for Keene Youth Sports Association softball games, soccer games, the Fourth of July Parade, STARfest and many other events in Keene.

Sparks, who died in February, never sought compensation or recognition for his good deeds. The Helping Hands Award he received last year was to be a one-time recognition for his service. But after his death, the Chamber board decided to continue the award in his memory.

Although many of Bischoff’s deeds are visible — filling potholes, mowing the lawns of residents who cannot do it themselves, trimming shrubs at blind intersections — he was honored for the multitude of times he has helped residents with transportation to grocery stores, doctor visits and other errands, driven to the offices of elected officials to seek assistance for military veterans, provided clothes and food for those in need and a variety of acts of kindness and compassion that are generally not known by most residents.

The Educator of the Year is one who “demonstrates excellence in the classroom and goes the extra mile by being involved in the lives of students outside the classroom,” according to the criteria of the award.

The Chamber honors one teacher from the public school and one from the private schools. The award is accompanied by a check for $100.

Other winners have been Cheri Harrison, Bill Kilgore, Mary Guinn, Marlene Gilleroth, Charlotte Larkin, Harley Larkin, Delmon Tucker, Tyke Connell, Jimmie Rogers, Wanda Smith, Cheryl The, Linda Ramsey, Dale Anderson, Pat Sisk, Duane York, Ann Valdez, Art Chadwick, DeeAnn Bogusch and Steve Bradley.

Becker has taught at Chisholm Trail Academy and, for the last 16 years, at Keene High School, where she teaches English and is sponsor of the National Honor Society.

Jones is in his 11th year at Chisholm Trail Academy. He teaches advanced placement English literature, U.S. history and dual college credit history, freshman Bible and is vice principal. He organizes the halftime entertainment for all home basketball games.

Miosi received the Community Improvement Award which honors businesses for contributing to the beautification of the city through new buildings and/or well-manicured grounds and landscaping, thus presenting a positive image and improving the quality of life in Keene.

In late 2007, Miosi purchased 32 acres on the west side of Old Betsy Road across from TxDOT and developed it into Northside Station, scheduled to open soon with Royal Pizza Texas, Neighborhood Fitness and Northside Suites, a complex of small offices.

Miosi — owner of Sound Source Electronix, a company that installs audio visual equipment in business offices and restaurants — will be joining the Keene Chamber board of directors for a three-year term.

Mary Ortiz accepted the Community Service Award. Other Keenites involved in the Prayer Shawl Ministry are Dickie Martin, Jean Peterson and Joyce Zacharias.

Mendenhall is the 12th recipient of the 11-year-old Pioneer Award that recognizes “an individual or organization whose long-ago contribution and influence helped make Keene what it is today.”

Mendenhall, professor and chair of the communication department at Southwestern Adventist University, started radio station KJCR and served for 25 years as station manager.

The Young Entrepreneur Award, new in 2006, is presented to a young business person who has made a commitment to Keene.

Velez, a graduate of Chisholm Trail Academy and Southwestern Adventist University, is manager of the ABC Food Store and owner of JVL Expressions Photography.

He has served as vice president of the Keene Economic Development Board and the Keene Chamber of Commerce.

Robertson and Velez are leaving the board because their terms expired at the banquet.

The Keene Chamber of Commerce board members for 2009-10 are Glen Ball, Gwen Beeson, Samantha Gillin, Sarah Layton, Jessica Lozano, Mark Miosi, Jere Putnam, Dr. Luis Retamozo and Sharon Vaughn.