Wiley Davis Troup's Citizen of the Year

Wiley V. Davis receives his Citizen of the Year award from Troup City Administrator Russ Obar. Davis said the award "belonged to his family, because every time I need help, they come running."

Wiley V. Davis was named Citizen of the Year and the late Eugene McElroy received the first lifetime achievement award at the Troup Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet.

The program Friday encompassed folksy humor, including the featured speech by U.S. Rep. Louie B. Gohmert, and heartfelt emotion as presenters and honorees alike were moved to tears.

Accepting his award and a hug from Russ Obar, city administrator, Davis held the plaque aloft and declared, "This belongs to my family, because every time I need help, they come running."

Family members of McElroy were visibly moved as they took the stage to hear a proclamation by Mayor John Whitsell honoring the longtime Troup educator and businessman for his contribution to the community and designating March 5 Eugene McElroy Day. Troup ISD Supt. Marvin Beaty, who introduced the award, also displayed T-shirts emblazoned with McElroy's image.

The family of Eugene McElroy listens as Mayor John Whitsell reads a proclamation making March 5 Eugene McElroy Day in Troup.

Held at Troup High School, the evening began with a barbecue dinner prepared and served by the Troup Women's Civic Organization. Following dinner, guests moved to the auditorium to hear remarks by R e p . Gohmer t and presentations of Teacher of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, Business of the Year, Police Officer of the Year and Citizen of the Year, as well as the premiere of the lifetime achievement award.

Teacher of the Year awards went to instructors from all three campuses. Karen Agnew was the high school honoree, Kitty Badger, middle school, and Kimberly Knighton, elementary.

Introduced by their respective principals, all three teachers were commended for dedication to their students and excellence in their positions.

Each teacher received a $500 award from the Troup Rotary Club.

Volunteer Jerry Gatlin received the Firefighter of the Year Award. Gatlin has been with the department approximately five years and is "always there when we need him," said VFD president David Agnew.

McElroy

Obar introduced the Police Officer of the Year award, given this year to the entire Troup Police Department.

"There were a lot of tough decisions this past year as we installed a new police department," said Obar, praised the officers' accomplishments and their level of training and experience.

Business of the Year honors went to Steele's Feed & Seed and Steele's Fertilizer Service. Agnew said Doug and Cindy Steele's businesses were known all over East Texas for their products and support.

The introductions of Citizen of the Year and lifetime achievement were accompanied by moving PowerPoint presentations recalling the lives of Davis and McElroy.

Davis enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and switched to the Air Force in 1950, serving in military intelligence. Fluent in Russian and German, he served as a linguist and interpreter in Germany, where he met his future wife in a military hospital. They married in 1954, with Davis los- ing his security clearance because of his wife's German heritage.

They moved to Troup in 1972, and Davis began a life of community involvement, leading presenter Obar to praise his good citizenship.

Speaker Louie Gohmert (right) plays a game with the audience to see who wins a special hand-carved cane.

"If you've got it, it grows with you," said Obar, praising Davis for passing his citizenship down through his family. They decorate the downtown area for holidays and tend flowers at the city hall. Davis and his family also repaired the roof of a pavilion at the park and provided park benches.

Obar said Davis was a man of "more depth than I could ever imagine ... and truly, truly a volunteer for the city and a good citizen."

Like Davis, lifetime achievement honoree McElroy also served in the military before establishing himself in Troup, where he taught, coached and served as a principal and then superintendent of schools.

Current Supt. Beaty praised McElroy's honesty, integrity, calling him both fair and firm.

"I knew him only two years, but I'll admire him the rest of my life," said Beaty.

Members of the Troup Women's Civic Organization serve the barbecue dinner.