BRADD gives annual honors

By Doug Waters
The Daily News, Bowling Green

Cave City - A who's who of community servants assembled June 13 for the Barren River Area Development District's 38th annual meeting at the Cave City Convention Center.

The Meeting sets the tone for the coming year, according to Jeff Moore, The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s planning branch manager in Bowling Green, who works closely with BRADD on transportation issues.

“We get all the region’s leaders in one room,” Moore said.

As usual, a bevy of awards for longtime service and dedication were doled out after a hearty meal.

Former Allen County Attorney Jim Secrest took this year’s William H. Natcher Award for distinguished government service and Don Butler, who recently retired as head of Community Action of Southern Kentucky, took home the Tim Lee Carter Award honoring community service.

The Natcher award was established after the congressman’s death in 1994. The Carter award was established in 1980 in recognition of the former Monroe County physician who, while in Congress, lobbied to support medical service improvements for rural areas, according to BRADD Services Coordinator Jack Eversole.

“To be placed in the same category as Bill Natcher is out of this world,” Secrest, 75, said of the revered Democrat, a U.S. Congressman from 1953 to 1994.

“Bill Natcher is probably turning over in his grave,” Secrest joked, “for being associated with a reprobate Republican.”

Butler, 59, said public service is a “high calling” and “sacred trust,”

“To much is given, much is required,” he said, citing a biblical admonition his parents taught him.

The things we do for ourselves will pass, Butler said, but the things we do for others will live on.

Butler has been a special adviser to BRADD and 18 other community boards or commissions and a welfare-to-work program advocate, said former Scottsville Mayor Dell Hall, who introduced Butler.

More than a dozen service appreciation plaques were dispersed.

For 10 years of service or more: Logan County Judge/Executive John Guion, Dell Hall, Cave City Mayor Bob Hunt, Edmonson County Judge/Executive N.E. Reed, Warren County Judge/Executive Mike Buchanon, Edmonton Mayor Howard Garrett and Metcalfe County Citizen Member Harold Stilts.

For 15 years of service or more: Barren County Citizen Member Mike Jennings and Simpson County Industrial Board Chairman John Raines.

For 20 years of service or more: Citizen Member Kenneth Chico Harper, former Judge/Executive of Simpson County, Rochester Mayor Designee David Martin (former Butler County Judge/Executive) and House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green.

2006-2007 BRADD Board Officers

Chairman -William Webb	Vice Chairman - Judge/Executive N. E. Reed
Secretary – Mayor Howard Garrett	Treasurer – Judge/Executive Jim Henderson

Awards pictures
Awards given in appreciation for 10 yrs dedicated service to the BRADD, Howard Garrett, Mike Buchanon , Dell Hall, N.E. Reed, Harold Stilts.	John Guion and Bob Hunt also recieved rewards for 10 yrs dedicated service.
Mike Jennings and John Raines honored for 15 yrs dedicated service to the BRADD . Also Curtis Sullivan and Steve Thurmond were honored.	David Martin, Jody Richards (Richie Sanders accepted the award on his behalf), and Kenneth "Chico" Harper were honored for 20 yrs dedicated service to the BRADD
Joe Carrico received the award for 25 yrs dedicated service to the BRADD from Chairman - William Webb.	Charlie Black received the award for 30 yrs dedicated service to the BRADD from Chairman - William Webb.
Elroy Larimore received the award for 35 yrs dedicated service to the BRADD from Chairman - William Webb.	More pictures