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The Chamber of Commerce Serving Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County presented the 2023 People’s Choice Awards last Wednesday. Nov 15.
The People’s Choice Awards recognize some of the outstanding individuals, organizations and business in Rockbridge County across five categories: Volunteer of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, Educator of the Year, Employer of the Year and Citizen of the Year. Nominations are submitted by local civic organizations, the chamber board of directors and the community at large.
Brent Buswell was named Volunteer of the Year for his volunteer leadership in numerous organizations including the Rockbridge Jaycees, Mountain City Masonic Lodge, Rockbridge Royal Arch Chapter No. 44 and Moomaw Commandery No. 27.
This year’s Humanitarian of the Year award went to The Community Table of Rockbridge for being “a restaurant without a cash register” whose dining room is open to all regardless of present need or income.
David “Weenie” Miller was named Educator of the Year for his contributions to Rockbridge County High School athletics and his impact on the thousands of students he has inspired over the years.
This year’s Employer of the Year, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Department, has served Rockbridge County and the city of Lexington for more than 245 years. The RCSO goes above and beyond to recognize employees for their important work, treats employees with respect and leads by example every day, said a chamber spokesperson.
The 2023 Citizen of the Year award was presented to Will Harris. He is the owner and founder of Northfork Lumber, a sawmill operation located in Goshen. He also farms, moves and restores heavy equipment and builds custom homes. Over many years, Will has served as a member of multiple boards in Rockbridge County. Harris currently serves as president of the Virginia Museum of Transportation and was instrumental in getting the iconic 611 steam locomotive restored and moving again. Through his initiative and in conjunction with the Buckingham Branch Railway, the 611 was the star of a fiveweekend excursion run from Goshen to Staunton, a venture that brought added tourism and economic benefit to the entire region.
THE WINNERS of the People’s Choice Awards included (from left) Weenie Miller, Educator of the Year; Chad Joyce, Kate Gordon and Elle Crossman, representing The Community Table, winner of the Humanitarian of the Year; and Sheriff Steve Funkhouser, representing the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office, which won Employer of the Year.
