West Memphis Chamber celebrates 75 years

Diamond anniversary banquet recognizes outstanding local businesses, individuals

By JOHN RECH

Guests packed into the Eugene Woods Civic Center for the 75th annual West Memphis Chamber of Commerce banquet last Wednesday evening. Fifteen citizens received recognition across six categories from the chamber for their contributions to the community during 2021. State Senator Keith Ingram capped the evening with a live interview by Steve Barnes of the AETN weekly roundtable, Arkansas Week.

Kay Kay Davis, Chamber President in 2021 noted member determination during the unprecedented business climate under the pandemic. Davis passed the passed the gavel to 2022 President Shelby Moore.

“This last year was full of uncertainty and change but this board of directors showed incredible innovation and leadership, and I am grateful for their work in the chamber and in this community,” said Davis. “I am confident this chamber will adapt to the ever-changing post-pandemic environment as we usher in our 2022 President Shelby Jo Moore.”

Jeanetta Gilliam received honors as diplomat of the year. Gilliam has served the county community for 30 years as a valuable and trustworthy resource for those marginalized. She is the Assistant Director of Families in Transition which provides shelter, safety and support services to victims of domestic violence human trafficking and sexual assault and surviving family of homicide victims. Her volunteer work at ribbon cuttings and chamber events earned her recognition.

See ANNIVERSARY, page A3

Photos by John Rech

State Senator Keith Ingram explained to AETN host Steve Barnes why he’d opted out of reelection during the 75th annual West Memphis Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Ingram offered retrospective of his political career and highlighted a pair of accomplishments. The senator said the automotive supply chain was shifting to the local region and education and health care were key factors in attracting manufacturers.

Shelby Jo Moore picked up the 2022 West Memphis Chamber of Commerce gavel as president for the coming year.

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Crittenden County Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Darin McCollum has headed the youth club for 28 years. His work displayed in providing a safe place for youth after school and in summer and sport programs. McCollum continued to anchor the West Memphis Parks and Recreation Committee as chairman. The Chamber designated McCollum as its member of the year.

Michael Rushing came forward to receive Quality Flooring’s small business of the year honors. The company has steadfastly supported a handful of good causes including the Crittenden County Boys and Girls Club, the JW Rich Girls Club, Steudlein Learning Center, Victory Church, Bikes for Tikes, ASU Mid-South, and the two local chambers.

The chamber honored the McWherter family and Best Beverages as the Large Business of the year. The Anheuser-Busch distributors supported local event like Esperanza Bonanza, The Knights of Columbus Oyster Supper, the Rotary Golf Tournament and the Tommy Goldsby Wild Game Dinner. The company contributed to local organizations including Delta Arts, ASU Mid-South, the Junior Auxiliary, the Chamber Leadership program.

State Representative Deborah Ferguson thanked her family and her constituency during her remarks as Citizen of the Year. The former dentist has served a variety of local non-profits and charities and lately nationally recognized for leadership in the health issues. She was recently elected secretary of the National Council of insurance Legislators, served on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators and its task force where she completed the Maternal and Infant Mortality fellowship. She worked with the national campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Ferguson served as the State Director of Women in Government.

Ten chamber of Commerce Leadership Class Graduates stood center stage for graduation trophies. Barnes noted the all-woman class and quipped, “It’s all for the best. Men Have screwed things up long enough. It’s time to hand it over to the ladies.”

Leadership honorees included, Ariel Williams, Southland Casino; Ashley Taylor, Fenter Physical Therapy; Carolyn Mills, Memphis Area Legal Services; Diane Taylor Walls, Arkansas Department of Finance; Kristin McCallum, Studio Gray; Leatha Moore, WREG TV; Shawn Elliot, Baptist Memorial Hospital Crittenden, Sheree Jones, A Touch of Home Cooking; and Tracey-Hayes Hurst, West Memphis School District.

Ingram capped the evening seated in a wing-backed chair fielding questions from Barnes. Ingram said the divisive atmosphere of partisan politics advanced by the majority party in Arkansas pushed his decision to not run for reelection in his newly gerrymandered and expanded district.

“I don’t consider myself retired,” said Ingram. I’ll be back home but I am still going to work for our area and state.

Ingram looked at strong health and education as requisites to attract new businesses especially in automotive manufacturing.

“The supply chain has moved from Cincinati to Chatanooga, and Lexington, Kentucky, and north Alabama – that supply chain is moving our way,” said Ingram. “We need to be prepared.”

Ingram touched on his two most significant accomplishments in office, one as West Memphis mayor and the other in the state legislature.

“The biggest thing more than anything as mayor was fixing the flood problem and passing the sales tax.” said Ingram. “I credit Ward Wimbish (then Public Works Director and now Utility Assistant Manager) with that more than anyone. If it rained then like it had the last couple of nights now, we would have been down in Westwood Acres with a boat getting people out. We had over 800 houses in flood zones. I don’t think there is more than a handful now.”

Ingram pointed to his highwater mark in the legislators as the sponsor of Katie’s Law. Katie was a student in New Mexico when she was murdered. Blood under her fingernails was untraceable because DNA testing was not required. Her case took three years to solve, and the man convicted had been arrested in a felony case two months prior. The law mandated DNA testing of criminals in the state as part of a national data base aimed at helping resolve cases involving murder, kidnapping, rape and fire.

“In the legislature, Katie’s Law remains very special to me,” said Ingram. “Katie’s mother realized there was no national data base for DNA. We passed a law that if you are arrested for a felony in Arkansas, just like fingerprints, they DNA you. That legislation has led to a number of solved murders.”