In “A Night of Our Famous Friends,” the Trigg County Chamber of Commerce celebrated plenty during Thursday’s annual dinner at Lake Barkley State Resort Park.
Much like in his olden days of terrific basketball as a player and coach, loud cheers erupted when Buddy Sivills was named the 2021-22 “Citizen of the Year.”
Keith Washer kindly spared the crowd of any suspense.
A 1965 graduate of Trigg County, Sivills’ resume is replete resounding results. He’s a Trigg County Sports Hall-of-Famer who went on to thrive at Carson Newman, before returning to Cadiz for a life filled with success. The former boys basketball assistant and Lady Wildcats head coach taught in the school system through 1978, spent four years in the Kentucky Labor Cabinet and opened Sivills United Food Center alongside his brother, Scott.
In 1992, he became a migrant educator advocate for the school district, and from 2000 until 2012 toiled as a masonry contractor.
From 2013 to the present, he’s been at the Bank of Cadiz, and Washer noted his former teacher’s impact still reaches locals today.
“Uncle” Willie Wilson was overcome with joy when Paula Flood announced the WKDZ co-founder as the winner for the “Spirit of Trigg County.” The legendary Hall-of-Fame broadcaster and truth-seeking informant is a spry 92 years old who still manages to maintain a sharp focus on Trigg County’s current events.
Wilson, naturally, moved to the front of the room and took the microphone — profusely thanking the crowd, noting that “everyone has a gift to give.”
Described as an effective and affectionate teacher, outgoing Chamber President Ashley Johnson revealed Trigg County Middle School 8th Grade English and Language Arts teacher Kristen Long as “Educator of the Year.”
Johnson also presented the “President’s Award” to a pair of groups who gave considerable efforts to the county this past year.
First, to the firefighters of Trigg County — for wrestling one of the tougher seasons on the job.
And then, to the staff of Lake Barkley State Resort Park — for persevering through pandemic, fires and tornadoes.
LeAnn Champion, 2021 winner of the “Horizon Award” for Stuff In Balloons, bestowed the next winner to Jeannine Johnston and Burger Barn — for being a successful business opened within the last three years.
FNB Bank received the nod for “Best Foot Forward” from Trigg County Farm Bureau Manager J.B. Moore. The honors follows the organization’s decade of excellence with Spirit Card fundraising, which has bolstered the school campus, and its many endeavors in community outreach.
Thursday’s dinner was a packed house.
