Leadership Texarkana hosts Lunch with Leaders
/Leadership Texarkana celebrated local excellence in community leadership during its annual Lunch with Leaders on April 20 at the Texarkana Convention Center. The organization presented its Leader Of The Year Award and honored community leaders through Leadership Texarkana’s annual Wilbur Awards. The luncheon was sponsored by Texarkana Emergency Center.
The Leader Of The Year Award is the highest award given by Leadership Texarkana annually, to honor outstanding alumni of the Leadership Texarkana program; it is given in memory of Idalee Raffaelli Hawkins who set a lasting and inspirational example for her willingness to serve our community. This year’s Leader of the Year was presented to Cory J. Floyd.
Leadership Texarkana’s Wilbur Awards have been given annually since 1992, in memory of community servant and historian Wilbur Smith. Celebrating the power of one to positively impact the community, the Wilbur Awards are given in three categories, honoring adults, youth, and organizations to individuals and groups who demonstrate exemplary leadership in the community and a commitment to working together for community excellence. The Wilbur Awards were presented to: For the Sake of One – organization; Elizabeth Patterson – adult; and Fazeka Barnes and Delia Tuttlebee – youth. Also honored for exemplary community leadership were adult honorees Theresa Cowling, Brandy Eldridge, Cloris Hopkins, Francine Francis and Russell Sparks.
