Late Councilman receives Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award; Ballew named Citizen of the Year; Chamber gets special recognition

The 103rd Poteau Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet took place Thursday night at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center.

With the Kentucky Derby taking place one week from today, it was appropriate that the banquet’s theme was “The Race is On,” which showed several “horse races” in which local city workers from the Poteau Police Department to Poteau Mayor Scotty White rode balloon horses in several races shown in videos.

However, the festive night ended with somberness as the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award went to late Poteau City Councilman and City Council President Clay Bennett, who passed away after a sudden illness March 1. Bennett’s family of wife Pam, children Matt and Gwyn and grandson Ty accepted the award, which was presented to them by The Community State Bank Chief Credit Officer Jeff Jensen.

Sherry Ballew was awarded the 2021 Citizen of the Year Award by Poteau Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Karen Wages.

In a special moment Thursday night, on behalf of the Oklahoma State Legislature, Sen. Mark Allen of Spiro awarded Wages a certificate thanking her and the Poteau Chamber of Commerce for all work done in the community as well as all the volunteers the Chamber gathers to help at the local events.

Choctaw Nation Economic Development Representative Kreg Haney awarded two honors, giving the Volunteer of the Year Award to Lisa Phillips, while her husband Donnie was named the 2021 Balloonfest Volunteer of the Year.

Late Poteau Mayor Jeff Shockley’s wife and Poteau City Councilwoman Connie Shockley awarded the 2021 Jeff Shockley Stewardship Award to Poteau Upper Elementary School teacher Susan Manlove.

Two Poteau High School seniors, Reagan Bullard and Brett Freeman, were awarded scholarships on behalf of the Young Professionals of Poteau by Chairman Jennifer Belt and member Josh Belt.

LeFlore County Development Coalition Chairman Ted Sheets recognized the 2021 Civic Improvement Award winners, which were Cavanal Services, Mercy Clinic, Kibois Community Action Foundation, Poteau Health and Wellness Center, Kiamichi Tech-Poteau Campus, TrueValue Hardware Store and the T-Mobile Store.

State Director of Rural Development Kenneth Corn was the master of ceremonies, while the J.B. Lloyd Band provided the entertainment.

PDN photos by David Seeley Top photograph, The Community State Bank Chief Credit Officer Jeff Jensen, right, gives the family late Poteau City Councilman and Poteau City Council President Clay Bennett the Poteau Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the 103rd Poteau Chamber of Commerce Award Banquet on Thursday night at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center. Bennett passed away March 1 after a short illness. Top right photograph, on behalf of the Oklahoma State Legislature, Sen. Mark Allen of Spiro, right, gives Poteau Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Karen Wages, center, a certificate recognizing the Chamber’s efforts locally. Sharing the moment is State Director of Rural Development Kenneth Corn. Bottom right photograph, Wages, right, gives Sherry Ballew the Citizen of the Year Award. Check out our photograph gallery at www.poteaudailynews.com.