© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Awarding Laughter: Highlights of Chamber's 65th Annual Banquet

They say laughter is the best medicine and last Saturday night the Delta County Chamber of Commerce was serving up the cure with comedian Daryl Felsberg. Felsberg entertained the crowd of nearly 150 folks at the 65th Annual Membership Banquet hosted by the Chamber at Cooper High School.

He took the stage after the audience learned about how Felsberg’s current album can be found on XM Comedy and how he is releasing his newest album this November. He has a Travel Channel Pilot to air in Spring of 2016. He has toured all over the country and even for the troops overseas through the USO. Felsberg took no prisoners starting is jokes with Delta County Sheriff Ricky Smith, who pleasantly enjoyed the humor. He shared adventures of living in the country in Lamar County and the joys of raising children. He even turned the tables and poked fun at himself and his size.

Felsberg spurred laughter with his inquisition of the why Delta County would want to hold a fest around a chigger, hoping he wouldn’t get sent to the principal’s office.

Opening the evening was Cooper High School student Micalyn Rowe with the National Anthem, Sheriff Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance, Carol King gave in the invocation and The Silver Skillet catered the BBQ meal with homemade cobbler.

“We might be a small county, but we are filled with good people,” said Chamber President Cheryl Cash.

Chamber member Denicia Hohenberger and Chamber President Cheryl Cash presented the evening’s awards with Carl Weets receiving the Agriculturalist of the Year.

“He might not have been born in Delta County but he got here from Iowa as fast as he could,” said Hohenberger on Weets, who arrived here in 1980. He is married to Leah and together they have two daughters and two sons. He has served on the National Soy Bean Board but is most locally known as Carl’s Corn.

Pharmacist at Miller’s Pharmacy Yogi Patel received the Business of the Year award.

“He opened his business on Chiggerfest Day, Oct. 16, 2010 which was no easy task,” explained Hohenberger on Patel. He is married to Suzanne Patel, who owns The Flower Patch also located in the pharmacy. Their children are Jeffrey, Kristi, Sierra and Sean. Patel was born in Ndola, Zambia and grew up in Africa and eventually moved to Lubbock, Texas in his teenage years where he attended Texas Tech. Patel traveled to Weatherford, Oklahoma to attend pharmacy school where he met his wife.

Receiving the Citizen of the Year award was Pecan Gap native Ed Pickard.

“A Sunday school teacher at Pecan Gap Methodist Church, Ed Pickard is involved in many things in Pecan Gap including the Pecan Festival,” said Hohenberger. He is married to Karen, and they have two daughters Lyndsay Gable and Katie Pickard and one grandson Titus.

Volunteer Fireman of the Year went to veteran Enloe Volunteer Fire Department fire fighter Larry King. He has committed over 40 years to the Department.

“Larry King was on the committee to purchase a fire truck long before they even had an actual fire department,” said Hohenberger. “In addition to his duties as a fireman King maintains the grounds of the Enloe Community Center, Enloe United Methodist Church and many homes in the community.”

He is married to Donna and they have two sons, Mike and Cody and two granddaughters, Maddy and Cambrie and are anticipating the arrival of his first grandson, Case Michael.

Hohenberger and Cash presented Chamber service awards to Karen Falls, Terry Landers and JoNita Moody for their dedication to the Delta County Chamber of Commerce.

Cash thanked those in attendance for their support Saturday night and throughout the year. She extended an invitation for anyone interested in joining the Chamber and for event volunteers. She also recognized the 2015 Board of Directors President Cheryl Cash, Vice President Kenneth Cottongame, Vice President Dr. Torance Vandygriff, members Ron Spear, Terry Landers, Denicia Hohenberger, James Jarrell, Terri Reed, Cindy Roller, Kathy Houchins, Brenda Stewart and office manager Gracie Young.

See comedian Daryl Felsberg in action on stage in Cooper (link below)!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImWXTrdp9Xo&feature=youtu.be

Related Content