Posted 12:54 am Friday, March 12, 2010
Gladewater Honors Distinguished Man, Woman At Annual Banquet
By BETTY WATERS
Staff Writer
GLADEWATER -- Judith (Judy) Brisbois Burlison's proudest achievement has been organization and operation of recycling programs for the City of Gladewater. She has also served in civic organizations and on the city council.
Staff Writer
GLADEWATER -- Judith (Judy) Brisbois Burlison's proudest achievement has been organization and operation of recycling programs for the City of Gladewater. She has also served in civic organizations and on the city council.
Dr. Kenneth A. Skipper says his patients are what he has liked most about practicing medicine in the area many years. He has also been an active supporter of scouting in the Gladewater community.
Ms. Burlison was named 2009 Woman of the Year and Skipper was named the 2009 Man of the Year during the 79th annual Gladewater Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday at Gladewater High School Former Students' Building. About 250 people attended, a chamber official estimated.
In other banquet highlights, Rockett Realty Inc., owned by Ray Peden, was named 2009 Business of the Year and Jeff LaRue, a Gladewater High School math teacher, was named Educator of the Year.
Katherine Bowen, operator of West Pacific Antiques, received the Main Streeter of the Year Award and Todd Clifton, a member of the chamber board of directors, received the Bradley Award for working with the president to meet chamber goals.
Guest speaker Dr. Kirk Calhoun, president and chief administrative officer for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, presented an inspirational talk.
Ms. Burlison, a long-time teacher, moved to Gladewater in 2000 and "quickly made a difference," Barbara Mackey said in presenting her the Woman of the Year Award.
Ms. Burlison was instrumental in reorganizing Friends of the Library and participated in the organization's fund-raising events. She also is a member of Gladewater Area Ladies Association, Garden Club, the chamber and Democratic Party of Upshur County.
Despite having been told that Gladewater residents would not participate in recycling, Ms. Mackey, last year's Woman of the Year, said that Ms. Burlison overcame the naysayer's, organized civic groups and found the needed help and resources to make a civic recycling project reality.
Since being elected to the city council in 2009, Ms. Burlison "has served the residents of Gladewater with openness of government and encouraging civic participation and responsibility," Ms. Mackey said.
Ms. Burlison was described as "a ray of sunshine in whatever civic or social group she has been a part of and most of all to her family." She is married to Delbert Burlison and the couple raised two children.
Ms. Burlison taught school 31 years, including 26 years at Forest Park School in Longview. She also has taught in Galveston, Beaumont and Lake Charles , La. After retiring in 2002, she worked as a substitute teacher in Gladewater, White Oak and Union Grove, and then became an adjunct professor at Kilgore Junior College.
Ms. Burlison, a native of Houston, earned a bachelor's degree in education from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's of education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Skipper moved to Gladewater 31 years ago. He was associated with Hugman Kent Clinic 15 years and with Good Shepherd Medical Clinic the last 16 years.
Skipper is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in engineering. He attended Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio, and did his internship in internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Skipper is a diplomate of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
In presenting the Man of the Year Award to Skipper, Bennie Cornutt, last year's recipient, said that Skipper "has been an active supporter of scouting in the Gladewater community." He is also a past Rotary Club member and a member of First Baptist Church, where he is a member of the Sherman Kennedy Sunday School class.
Skipper and his wife, Karen, have two sons.
Rockett Realty, the Business of the Year, was established in Gladewater in 1968 by Jean Rockett, but in June 1997, Peden bought the Rockett Realty name and contracted with Ms. Rockett to remain as the broker until he obtained his brokers license.
Rockett Realty, the Business of the Year, was established in Gladewater in 1968 by Jean Rockett, but in June 1997, Peden bought the Rockett Realty name and contracted with Ms. Rockett to remain as the broker until he obtained his brokers license.
Peden opened an office across from the airport, operated with assistance of his wife, Karen, for about five years. Peden later opened a new office on U.S. Highway 80 in the Main Street area. Rockett Realty is a member of the Longview and Tyler Multiple Listing Services and has assisted over 1,000 families in locating homes.
Peden is a member of Gladewater Lions Club, a director of the chamber and East Texas Museum at Gladewater. He was chamber president in 2005-06 and is a member of Main Street Church of Christ.
