York Electric Cooperative honors 75 local heroes
When York Electric Cooperative considered how it wanted to celebrate 75 years in operation, there were some traditional ideas such as huge birthday cake.
But the cooperative also wanted to reach out to its community in different ways.
Last week, the cooperative honored 75 people who “give back to the community each day but get no credit,” said Paul Basha, the cooperative’s president and chief executive officer.
“We want to thank the people who don’t get thanked.”
The cooperative created a committee to review more than 100 nominations from cooperative members and community leaders.
The 75 award winners were recognized during a ceremony Thursday at the Hood Center in Rock Hill. Honor were:
▪ Tammie Anderson: Served on York Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board, member of Clover Presbyterian Church and founder of Crooked Creek Farm, a charity that provides horseback riding lessons for children who cannot afford them.
▪ Alberta Anthony: Retired school teacher who worked for the York School District #1 for 40 years, member in Bethesda Presbyterian Church.
▪ Shirley Bailey: Past chair and current board member for the York County Free Clinic, past President of the Rock Hill Kiwanis Club.
▪ Dr. Stacy Blackmon: Organized a free dental clinic in association with the Clover Area Assistance Center.
▪ Betty Bolin: Known as the “glue” that holds her community together, member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church.
▪ Dana Boutwell: Founder of 30 Days for a cure to benefit cookies for Kids’ Cancer, where sales from numerous bake sales in our area are coupled with business donations, has raised more than $70,000 to benefit childhood cancer.
▪ Stephen Burkell: Eagle Scout who earned his way into Order of the Arrow, staff sergeant in the Marine Corps for 12 years, volunteer firefighter at Bethel VFD.
▪ Michelle Cherikos: Owner of Angel Eye portraits, using photography to inform, educate, and make a difference in the lives of orphans.
▪ Jessica Cody: Member of Moped to Memphis group, which raises funds for St. Jude Hospital, grant coordinator for Eat Smart Move More York County, president for Bethany Elementary PTO.
▪ Scott Craton: Received “Thumbs Up” awards for finding an elderly woman in her yard who had fallen and needed assistance and for delivering a baby on S.C. 521.
▪ Bob Davenport: Member of the Bethesda Volunteer Fire Department.
▪ Kyle Dowdall: Full-time firefighter with the Tega Cay Fire Department, volunteer firefighter for the Riverview Fire Department and Wesley Chapel Fire Department.
▪ Rev. James Erle: Pastor at Cornerstone Family Worship Center, increased the reach of the church’s food pantry from helping 25 families per week to more than 145 families per week.
▪ Rebecca Christenbury: Coordinates and hosts many fundraising events to aid in the cost of hospital bills and funeral expenses for those in need.
▪ Cindy Downing: Committee Chairman for Comporium Pioneer Club, Salvation Army board member, ITPA board member.
▪ Gary Farris: Past board member for Keep York County Beautiful, member of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church.
▪ Richard Fox, Jr.: Member and deacon of West End Baptist Church, avid hunter, sharing his meat with needy families.
▪ Connie F. Freeman: Truly cares for people who come into her store, takes time to check on others and visit with them when they do not have family.
▪ Anne Gilfillan: Member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, volunteer for the Hickory Grove Fire Department including coordinating its Tractor Show and Cow Patty Drop fundraising events.
▪ Elizabeth Diana Hammond: Mother of six who cares for her son, Timothy, who suffered a brain injury seven years ago, travels to military bases to support the troops, feeding them and thanking them for their service in a decorative school bus.
▪ Elizabeth Harris: Has served on the Catawba Indian Nation tribal government since 2009, helping to establish a new Constitution, strategic plan for the future, a transit service, a wellness program, along with many other community events.
▪ Shirley Harris: Retired school teacher after 31 years, currently Adult Education teacher and member of the York School Board for 16 years.
▪ Patti Imler: Plays Santa for families in need during Christmas, purchasing gifts for children, delivers firewood and pays utility bills for families in need during winter months.
▪ Ruth Jackson: Caregiver to many during her years as a floor secretary for York General Hospital, followed by Piedmont Medical Center, volunteer at Hope House of Rock Hill.
▪ Butch Jamieson: Delivers meals to homebound neighbors and donates food to those in need in our area and donates items such as air conditioners, phones and cars to those in need.
▪ Mary Jones: Registered nurse who works in home care and took in a homeless teen, offering her a nurturing environment.
▪ Caroline Krueger: Member of Oakland Baptist Church, volunteer Sunday School teacher at a local nursing home.
▪ David Lawrence: His work worked as an economic developer for our area for 20 years has provided many jobs in Rock Hill.
▪ Douglas Little, Jr.: Provides books for elementary schools in York School District One, police officer for 15 years and currently serves as an officer reserve for the York City Police.
▪ Albert Lopez: Collects payments from community members to cover utility bills for his 94-year-old landlord, donates funds himself to help cover any bills that are unpaid in his neighborhood.
▪ Mark McCarter: 4-H leader in the community, including many volunteer hours to teach underprivileged children about horses.
▪ Grady Meeks, Jr.: Disabled veteran, who served in the Air Force including tours in Vietnam; has helped other veterans receive more than $8 million dollars in benefits since 2005.
▪ Patti Mercer: Volunteer coordinator for the S.C. Strawberry Festival, volunteer judge for Fort Mill’s annual Dancing with the Stars.
▪ John Merical: Built a bedroom, kitchen, bath, and laundry area for a family in need living six hours away, member of his church, serving as a deacon, Vacation Bible School leader, Baptist Men Leader, and Aging Ministry committee where he builds ramps for the elderly.
▪ Frances Moore: Secretary at College Park Baptist church, caretaker for her 84-year-old mother who is in the last stages of dementia.
▪ Donald Murfin: Founder of The Community Café, a nonprofit that provides free meals to the less fortunate.
▪ Lauren Opitz: High school senior, past assistant coach for “Girls on the Run, “ volunteer for preschoolers at a local private school.
▪ Rev. Jeffrey Park: Founder of the Learning Help Centers of Charlotte, placing chaplains in low income, immigrant/refugee majority apartment complexes and provides free after school tutoring, sports programs, summer camps, and family stabilization to keep kids in school.
▪ Dr. Vina Pesaru: Care for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s, support group meeting for family members.
▪ Roger Phillips: Reserve deputy for Lancaster County Sheriff’s office for 17 years.
▪ Scott Phillips: Volunteer Adopt-A-Pilot Ambassador for local schools representing his employer, Southwest Airlines, boy scout leader and organized the Polar Plunge at the Upper Palmetto YMCA.
▪ Scott Prophet: Extraordinary neighbor and family man, volunteer handyman to those in need in his community.
▪ Melvin Propst, Jr.: Caretaker of the elderly, widows, neighbors and friends in our community, donates large baskets of fruit to needy families during Christmas.
▪ Michael Radl: Collects and distributes baked items to the needy around York County including Pilgrim’s Inn and Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen.
▪ Floyd Robinson (deceased): Charter member of the Tega Cay Volunteer Fire Department where he served for 42 years. collected and recycled aluminum cans from local restaurants with proceeds donated to S.C. Children’s Burn Center.
▪ Oscar Sadler: Member of York Electric’s Board of Trustees, elder at Bullocks Creek Presbyterian Church.
▪ Dr. Winslow Schock: Founder of Cheer for Children, a charity helping children, Rock Hill Community Relations Council board member and Clinton College Board of Trustees.
▪ Michael Scoggins: York County historian, Southern Revolutionary War Institute director, Author/co-author of 12 boos on local and regional history for York County.
▪ Judy Smith: Volunteer for the Fort Mill Care Center, working to connect those that are fortunate with those in need.
▪ Jay Stackley: Deacon First Baptist Church in York, Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity who recently traveled to Romania to build homes.
▪ James Tims: Respected and dedicated neighbor always willing to lend a helping hand or ear to those in need.
▪ Brian Trail, Sr.: City of York policeman for 27 years.
<bullet>Totty Wilkerson: Leader of a team that prepares weekly meals at Dorothy Day Soup kitchen for more than twelve years, conducts a weekly Bible study for women at the Moss Justice Center.
▪ Troy Williams: Volunteer dog walker for elderly community members and those who have fallen ill, handyman for those in need.
<bullet>Kierra Landrum: Volunteer working with Autism Spectrum Disorder, “Girls on the Run” Piedmont Medical Center and York County Board of Disabilities.
▪ Ronnie Aiton, Sr.: Founded and funded “Kids for Jesus Bus Ministry” in our community which picks up kids and adults in the Rock Hill area to attend church.
▪ Jules Cagle: Member of the Extended Biker Sisters. fundrasier for various local campaigns.
▪ Dale Dove: Founder of Renew Our Community, Inc. a charitable organization founded in 2012 helping those in need in our area.
▪ Rev. Dr. Ron King: Founder of “Feed the Hungry Ministry” which has helped feed and clothe thousands of homeless over the years.
▪ Jesse Miskelly: Teacher of agriculture at Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center, organizes fundraisers to help those that are less fortunate travel with the class to learn about the importance of the agriculture industry.
▪ Dr. Wendy Schonfeld: Founder of RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center, a nonprofit organization using horses for therapy.
▪ Babette Sabia: Member of the Indian Land Rotary Club, volunteer for United Way and Indian Land Fall Festival.
▪ Elouise McCree: 25-year volunteer with the 4H program in Chester, partnering with the Red Cross Disaster Manager, she led their comfort kit program in the Chester area 3 years, taking in over 500 kits each year.
▪ Ainslee Moss: Founder of Tender Hearts Ministries of York, a place for women and their children to find refuge.
▪ Lizabeth Swayne: Volunteer who cares for women and couples who are struggling to make wise choices or who simply need Christian advice.
▪ Ricky Teal: Invites families and people with special needs to come to his home to worship.
▪ Robert O. Williams: Past president and CEO of York Electric Cooperative.
▪ Mitchell Truesdale: American Red Cross Disaster Volunteer, helping with 7 national disasters, volunteer at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp in Canton, N.C., volunteer who helps maintain mountain trails around Asheville, N.C.
▪ Ronnie Hogue: Volunteer at PATH, cans food to give away to the needy and visits shut-ins in their homes, hospital rooms, and nursing homes.
▪ Dr. George Hook: 34-year member of Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, serving as the moderator on the board of deacons, elder, and chairman of the planning and development committee, volunteer at ROC dental clinic.
▪ Minor O. Gaskins: Volunteer with “Feed the Hungry Ministry” for 28 years, financially support the Edgemoor Auction Barn whick distributes ,more than 1,000bicycles throughout York and Chester Counties for Christmas each year.
<bullet>Clayburn Barnette: Active member of the Bethesda community for more than 60 years, serves as a magistrate judge and volunteers with the Bethesda Fire Department.
▪ Wayne Herndon: Volunteer with the Bethesda Fire Department, always first on the scene, even at the age of 80, when disaster strikes.
▪ Elaine T. Baker: Retired school teacher and administrator, serving the Rock Hill school district for 49 years.
▪ Judy Gray: member of Doby’s Bridge Presbyterian, Purchases school supplies for needy families at the beginning of each school year.
This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 9:37 PM with the headline "York Electric Cooperative honors 75 local heroes."