Everything Nac

The NacogdochesCounty Chamber of Commerce has named Sgt. Greg Sowell as the 2012 Citizen of the Year. The award is made annually by the Chamber’s board of directors.

Sowell will be recognized at the Chamber’s 91st Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet presented by Andrews & Andrews Attorneys at Law, Tuesday, Sept. 25, beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner served at 7 p.m. in the SFA Grand Ballroom, Baker Pattillo Student Center.

– – –

Young Greg Sowell surveyed the busy intersection. The five-year-old boy crossed the brick street in downtown Nacogdoches, his hand held firmly by his mother and his eyes focused on the uniformed officer directing traffic.

As the boy passed by the police officer, he tugged at the sleeve of the uniform that fascinated him. “Hey mister,” Greg’s tiny voice pleaded. “Can I have a job?”

Greg Sowell laughs as he recounts the story. “I don’t remember that happening, but my parents told that tale many times,” he said.

Young Greg knew early what he wanted to do with his life. By 1975 he was a police Explorer Scout, spending hours at the police station and “seeing a few things I probably was too young to have seen.”

Graduating from NacogdochesHigh School in 1979, he was hired as a police dispatcher in 1980 and became the youngest patrolman in NPD history at age 20 years, 3 months. “I bugged the chief every day until he finally gave me the chance,” Sowell said. After graduating from the East Texas Police Academy in 1981, he became the department’s youngest detective in 1985 and remained in that position for nine years, when he left to help form the new Nacogdoches Independent School District police department, under the direction of Doug Plough.

In 2002, he returned to NPD as Community Services and Public Information Officer. Altogether, he’s worked under seven police chiefs over a 32-year career.

Bryan Holt Davis served as Nacogdoches County Attorney for 35 years. “Greg dates back to the old-fashioned days of the police department,” Davis said. “Things were done differently. Let’s say they were very effective. But Greg was always kind to people – not abusive or harsh.”

Sowell’s good nature sometimes makes him an easy target.

“Every Monday morning we start the week with a staff meeting to review the prior weekend and the coming weeks’ activities,” Nacogdoches Police Chief Jim Sevey said. “I can’t wait to see what Greg was into over the weekend. Greg is usually the center of attention as he discusses the weekend’s adventures with his family. It almost always involves cooking and other family activities and he takes the merciless ribbing in stride. Only on a few occasions has he had to leave the room in frustration!”

Even though he’s worked many crime scenes and tracked murder suspects, it was a force of nature that gave Sowell second thoughts about his police abilities. “Hurricane Rita was something we’d never seen before,” he recalled. “It was the only time I felt uncomfortable. I was concerned there were people who needed help and we wouldn’t be able to get to them.”

Being at the center of the action still motivates the veteran police officer.

“Greg is always there when you need him, most of the time you don’t even have to call,” Assistant Chief Mike Kelly said. “Even after all the years in law enforcement, if he thinks something is going on that he can help with he shows up ready to do whatever is needed. Actually, he gets a little upset if you don’t call when something is going on.”

Sowell’s determination to help others also appears in the non-law enforcement areas of his life. As a board member and now president of the NacogdochesSeniorCenter, Sowell has shown his heart and compassion. “I grew up in that neighborhood,” he said. “And I really do believe in respect for the elderly.”

Working with director Tammy Blank and her staff, Sowell learned that one of the biggest challenges was meeting state requirements with a limited budget.

“There are a lot of unfunded mandates,” he said. “We’d tightened the belt a lot, but it wasn’t enough. So we called the state and conferred with agencies to try to modify the rules and regulations. For example, they require that home-delivered meals are served according to a certain schedule. We showed that we could provide the same quality of service while keeping our food and transportation costs in line.

“In 2010, we enlisted the help of Representative Christian, Senator Nichols, the City and the County in a joint effort. We received permission to modify the service, and it kept the doors open.

“We’ve begun looking ahead. That’s the greatest generation using the facility now. The Boomers are figuratively in the parking lot, looking at the door. They have different needs and wants. We received a grant to put in an exercise room and walking track, with help from the Healthy Nacogdoches Coalition, Dr. DawnElla Rust, Assistant Chief Mike Kelly and DETCOG.”

Sowell says in-kind labor to build the track and SFA students volunteering as trainers will provide a well-rounded wellness and fitness program for the center.

With a career that began with youthful enthusiasm and is now centered on helping the elderly, Sgt. Greg Sowell has shown how a public servant can both respond and take the lead in making a difference.

“If Greg and I didn’t work together I would still want him for a friend,” Chief Sevey said. “Greg is truly a Nacogdoches fixture and a fine representative of what is Nacogdoches’ best product- its people.”

————————————————————-

About the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce 91st Annual Meeting & Membership Banquet presented by Andrews & Andrews Attorneys at Law

The chamber’s annual meeting begins at 6 p.m. with a raffle and social hour. Dinner is served at 7 p.m.

Award recipients for 2012 are:

Sgt. Greg Sowell, Citizen of the Year sponsored by Tipton Ford, Inc.

Heart of Texas Gift Gallery, Small Business of the Year.

Austin Bank, Texas N.A. – Nacogdoches, Medium Business of the Year sponsored by Regions Bank.

Hotel Fredonia, Large Business of the Year sponsored by R&K Distributors, Inc.

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce has named Heart of Texas Gift Gallery as the 2012 Small Business of the Year. The award is one of three Gary Justice Business Excellence Awards given annually by the Chamber.

Heart of Texas owner Gerry Larabee will be recognized at the Chamber’s 91st Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet presented by Andrews & Andrews Attorneys at Law, Tuesday, Sept. 25, beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner served at 7 p.m. in the SFA Grand Ballroom, BakerPattilloStudentCenter.

Walking into the downtown retail store, at 110 S. Pecan St. just west of the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, the question could be “will Gerry be the first to say ‘howdy, y’all,’ or will the welcome come from Gracie Ann, the ‘store dog for Heart of Texas during the day and the devil dog of Larabeeville at night,’” – as Gracie is described on her own Facebook profile page.

Most certainly, all visiting the business should have a nice experience browsing Larabee’s Texas-themed merchandise as well as taking a rest at the ice cream and soda bar built by husband Tinker.

“Heart of Texas has been an anchor in downtown Nacogdoches,” Melissa Sanford, CVB executive director said. “It is a great contribution to allowing our visitors’ center to be open seven days a week.”

Heart of Texas has always been located in downtown with the first site established on Church St. in 1994. Six months after opening, the business location moved to Pilar St. In early year 2000, Larabee was able to purchase the current store location.

The direct contributions Larabee has made to downtown development are immeasurable – or at least not as easy to measure as her spicy cheese ball and dip mixes.

“I have known Gerry since 1991 and in these years her commitment has been to help revitalize our downtown,” volunteer Diana Walker said. “From the very beginning, Gerry was instrumental in helping reorganize our Downtown Business Association.”

Larabee’s passion for the city’s thriving downtown hub is proven in her leadership and service. She has served on the Main Street Advisory board of directors for 11 years, and she is currently serving as chairman of that board. She has held other DBA offices as well throughout the years. Larabee served two years as secretary/treasurer of the CVB board of directors and is currently the chairman of the CVB board. She served on the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce board of directors for three years and on the Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful board twice – including the organization’s early period when KNB was Nacogdoches Proud.

Walker said Larabee was instrumental in helping get the state’s Main Street designation. “She worked tirelessly on helping to put together our Main Street application which was a daunting task,” Walker said. “Gerry has been the driving force behind many of our downtown projects. She has worked on the Scare on the Square committee, Nine Flags Festival board and for the past eight years a member of the Nacogdoches Convention and Business Bureau serving as president.”

“Meeting people from all over the world is probably one of my favorite parts,” Larabee said. “We’ve had people from Italy, Australia, Japan, Holland, Germany and England. The French seem the most taken back and think Nacogdoches is a lovely little town.”

“We are a fun place to shop,” Larabee said. Her friendly atmosphere makes the Heart of Texas a Nacogdoches destination treat for all visitors.

“Her love of our downtown can be seen through all of her volunteer efforts,” Walker said. “I wish we had more downtown business owners with her commitment, and we owe a huge thank you for all of her years of dedication and hard work.”

————————————————————-

About the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce 91st Annual Meeting & Membership Banquet presented by Andrews & Andrews Attorneys at Law

The Chamber’s annual meeting begins at 6 p.m. with a raffle and social hour. Dinner is served at 7 p.m.

Award recipients for 2012 are:

Sgt. Greg Sowell, Citizen of the Year sponsored by Tipton Ford, Inc.

Heart of Texas Gift Gallery, Small Business of the Year.

Austin Bank, Texas N.A. – Nacogdoches, Medium Business of the Year sponsored by Regions Bank.

Hotel Fredonia, Large Business of the Year sponsored by R&K Distributors, Inc.