Man,
woman of year among
awards presented at annual
Chamber banquet
Left photo: Cathy Davis (right) of
Lincolnton Business and Professional
Women presents Shirley Smith (left)
with the 2011 Woman of the Year
award. Right photo: Bo Moore was
presented the 2011 Man of the Year
award posthmously from the Lincolnton
Rotary Club.
BY JON
MAYHEW
November 18, 2011 –
Thursday night was a night to honor
the business successes of Lincolnton
and Lincoln County as Duke Energy
presented the 2011 Lincolnton/Lincoln
County Chamber of Commerce annual
banquet.
Cathy Davis with the Business and
Professional Women’s (BPW) Club
of Lincolnton presented Shirley Smith
with the 2011 Woman of the Year
award.
“She does not meet a
stranger,” said Davis. “She
has made a mark and set the bar high
in Lincolnton…in getting things
done.”
A clearly surprised Smith said few
words upon accepting her award.
“I often presented this award
and wondered how you feel if you got
one,” said Smith. “It was
great.”
Attorney and former Charlotte mayor
Eddie Knox (left) is presented with
2011 Small Business Person of the
Year from Brad Rivers with the
Chamber's Small Business Council.
Perhaps the most
moving award of the night was the
2011 Man of the Year. Presented by
Stephen Starnes, he paid a very
emotional tribute to the late Bo
Moore.
Moore, who was the youngest Chamber
chairman of the board in 1990,
suddenly passed away in early
February 2011.
Family members including sister Kathy
Bumgardner accepted the award on
Bo’s behalf.
“As past chairman of the
Chamber, he took that role
seriously,” said Bumgardner.
“He loved this community and
loved helping others.”
The small business person of the
year, meanwhile, went to Denver
attorney and former Charlotte mayor
Eddie Knox.
Knox is the lead partner in the
Charlotte-area firm of Knox,
Brotherton, Knox and Godfrey. He is
also the developer of the highly
successful Verdict Ridge development
in Denver.
“This is great, you get to do
what you want to do,” said Knox.
“You get to practice law and
play some golf.”
Knox humbly gave credit to his family
and the people of his law practice.
“I love this county and I love
what is happening here,” said
Knox. “I urge us to lie down the
fight about the east and the west and
bridge the gap.”
Also honored was Activas, as the
company was named the 2011 Industry
of the Year.
See the Activas story, Kindley’s
award story and videos from the
Chamber banquet below.