Chamber gives ‘Red Carpet’ treatment to citizens

Seven of Littlefield’s area residents were “Committed to the Community” and honored Tuesday evening, Feb. 27, during the Littlefield Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 annual Banquet.

They were applauded by the “about 275” of the 300 people who bought tickets, who gathered in the Lamb County Ag and Community Center for the fun-time event.

Since the COVID Pandemic’s threat has eased up a bit, many were able to see the friends they had not been able to see since the pandemic began in early 2020. Special Recognition Awards

John D. McCarty, longtime owner and operator of McCarty Funeral Home in Littlefield, was introduced by Hillcrest Funeral Home owners Shawna Wagley and Sam Billingsley, for the “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Lisa Muller was introduced by Kathy Shipp, of the Rotary Club, for the 2021 Administrative Assistant Person of the Year Award. (More information on Mrs. Muller will be in Wednesday, May 7 edition)

Chamber of Commerce Awards DeLynn Butler introduced Jean Streety, the mother of her late daughter, Gina Streety, for the “Woman of the Year” Award. Gina and her father, Wayde Streety, both were victims of the COVID Virus.

The “Man of the Year” Award was presented to Lamb County Judge Mike DeLoach, after being introduced by Chamber member, Justin Balderas.

The 2021 “Family of the Year” Award was presented to the Manuel and Hilda Miranda family, following their introduction by Lupe Marquez and Stephen Hays.

John Roley’s Auto Center was honored as the “Business of the Year”, with John Roley receiving the aard plaque. The introduction was made by Director, Robert Watson.

The Blakely Award was presented to Nancy Sewell, in recognition of an Educational innovator for outstanding contributions to our youngsters and Littlefield ISD. Nancy was introduced by Lupe Marquez, with Mike Read, new superintendent of the Lfd School District, presenting the plaque.

Other special recognitions included a presentation of the U.S. Flag to “Miss A” (LHS Band Director, Bonnie Anderson) on behalf of Congressman Jodey Arrington, by Kaci Morris, his area representative.

Recognitions were for the Littlefield EMS, Hospital Staff, Police and Sheriff’s Departments, and government employees.

Utilities, City of Littlefield, Atmos Energy, Xcel, and Lamb Lamb County Electric Coop, Inc.; U.S. Military Veterans; and the “Swing for the Cure” Cystic Fibrosis fund raising check of $4,590.

Banquet’s beginning

As guests arrived, Cheryl Hines and Stephen Hayes greeted them, and accepted their admission tickets, which were also used for the drawing of door prizes at the end of the program.

Also on the right as everyone entered, Jackie Smith and Dr. Lauren Swartz, were at a Silent Auction table with some donated items to raise funds ($2,000 at the end of the banquet) that was donated to the Salvation Army, which helped so many during the pandemic.

Lupe Marquez, the 2021 Chamber of Commerce president, served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the 2021 Banquet, and welcomed the guests.

Shortly after, she called on Billy Montes, Senior Pastor at Trinity Church, to give the invocation.

At 6:30 p.m., Danny Marquez dismissed the tables to get in line for the banquet dinner, catered by Loco’s Restaurant, which was sponsored by Continental Dairy Facilities SW, LLC, and the fruit cups, served by Antojito’s Restaurant, as a side treat of a variety of fruits, that were sponsored by First Federal Bank, Dr. Jolanta Snyda and Capital Farm Credit.

During the meal, Veronica Torres sang several solo numbers, as she was accompanied by music played by DJ Jimmy Garcia.

Chamber directors

Lupe Marquez and Alex I Jaramillo introduced the retiring and current Chamber directors:

Retiring directors are: Monica Gonzales, Holly Nelson, Wesley Gaffney, AndrewP Eisenwine, and Jim Jones, Executive Vice President.

Current Directors are: Stephen Hays, VP Administration; Jackie Smith, VP of Events; Cheryl

Hines, VP Membership & Secretary; Alex Isaac Jaramillo, VP of Media Communications; Justin Balderas, Treasurer; and the five other directors: Robert Watson, DeLynn Butler, Dr. Lauren Swartz, Dr. Doug Swartz, and Bret Holloway, Branch President of Wellington State Bank, the newest director.

A special presentation of an arrangement of flowers was presented to Dr. Doug and Dr. Lauren Swartz, who have resigned from the board, since they are moving to Plainview.

The Keynote Speaker, Steve Gomez, head coach of the LCU Lady Chaps’ Basketball team, was introduced by Doug Swartz.

Coach Gomez encouraged everone to seek unity and not slothful, in everything they do with others, and not end up looking stupid or selfish.

Always be respectful, and dont’t play on your emotions, since emotions sometimes cause wrong responses.

He also advised everyone to put work into your hours, to get a job done right.

After he closed his part of the program, two basketballs, that were autographed by Coach Steve Gomez, were given away in a drawing. The balls were sponsored by the LHS Coaching Staff. Honoree introductions:

JOHN D. McCARTY was introduced by Shawna Wagley and Sam Billingsley, owners of Hillcrest Funeral Home, for the “Lifetime Achievement Award.”

He was born Jan. 14, 1993, in East Texas area to HB and Idella, as the fourth child of five (one sister and three brothers). In 1939, his family moved to Littlefield, and his hard work ethic was evident at an early age, as he and his brothers worked to support the family and only attended school on the days they were unable to work. But education was important to him, and he graduated from Dunbar High School in 1955. While his brothers all joined the military, he was called to serve in another way, following in his fathers footsteps. On January 11, 1957 John D. McCarty graduated from Houston Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services. In 1958 he earned his license thru the State of Texas as a funeral director, and in 1960 he was awarded his license as an embalmer. For over 60 years he has been serving the West Texas area as a dedicated funeral professional during time of loss. He has provided services and comfort to countless families, and his love for people and his passion for the funeral service profession still shines bright after 64 years.

John D. has seen many changes in the world and in the funeral service in that time, from funeral homes once operating the ambulance service, segregation, numerous changes in laws and regulations in funeral directing and embalming, changing traditions and customs, navigating a pandemic, and ever-changing technology and its impact on not only our daily lives, but its inclusion in funeral services. Back in the days he was working alongside his father, helping direct funeral services, I can almost assure you John D. never dreamed there would be a day that people could watch a funeral service from the comfort of their own homes, from across the country or even from across the world, via a thing called “livestream”. So many changes in the last six decades during his career, but one thing has never changed, and that is his ethical service, his honorable character, and his high standard of care and professionalism.

There is so much more to John D. McCarty than just funeral service though. He married his sweetheart, Opal Mildred Clayton on Feb. 16, 1960, and the two were married for 54 years before her passing in 2014. He was a loving husband, caretaker and provider for her everyday of her life. He is also a father of two, a son, Hubert and a daughter, Mary. He has received several awards and accolades over the years, like in 1999 he was Juneteenth Man of the Year, 2004 he was Littlefield Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, just to mention two among others. But, most of all, its hard to talk about John D and his life, without mentioning his faith. We’ve had numerous conversations over the years, and not once did his faith and love for Jesus not come up. He and Opal started Peace Deliverance Church, where he currently continues beyond the walls of the funeral home. As if that’s not enough to keep him busy, he also earned his barber license and many years ago opened a barber shop next door to the funeral home. And as a true testament to the man he is, at 88 years old, he can often be found helping widows or the elderly, mowing their yards or being a general handyman, doing anything they need help with getting done. His life hasn’t been easy, but to hear him tell it, you wouldn’t know that. He doesn’t complain or mope, there are no pity parties for him to attend. When he talks, he just tells you of the blessings he has been given. He’s weathered many storms, took life’s punches, and thru it all he continues to be a good steward with a servants heart, praising God. A biblical view of good stewardship can be defined as “utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the Glory of God and the betterment of His creation.”

That definition my friends, describes John D. McCarty, word for word.

He could have retired many times, but instead he remains THE hardest working and most committed man in our profession at 88 years young. Evan at his age, he is still giving 110% of himself in service to his community, still owns and operates his namesake, McCarty Funeral Home, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He’s the exception to the rule in our industry, a man who is highly respected. So much so, that after all these years when I address the man, or speak of him, I often still refer to him as “Mr. McCarty”, rarely calling him John D.

He is a remarkable man, with a remarkable story. And a remarkable legacy.

It is our honor to present this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. John D. McCarty, for his personal sacrifice during his 64 years of dedicated service to the funeral service and our community. Your level of care and compassion for the families you have served, your honorable character, your dignity and faith, make you a valuable asset to this profession.

Thank you for being a role model and mentor to others in this industry, including us, and for leading by example in the funeral home and in life. Thank you for your dedicated faith, for your friendship and the positive influence to Sam and I, and countless others you aren’t even aware of that have watched you go and grow in this profession over the years. John D. McCarty, than you Sir for making a difference.

DeLynn Butler introduced Jean Streety, who received the award for her daughter, Gina Streety, as the Woman of the Year.

This year’s recipient of Woman of the Year is the definition of a public servant. Serving Lamb County and Littlefield for almost 40 years, she was a Juvenile Probation Officer, a jailer, jail administrator and Public Assistance Coordinator. The Public Assistance Coordinator is actually several jobs in one, including: Veteran Affairs, Indigent Healthcare, Emergency Management, Courthouse Security and Public Assistance. She was also a commissioned Law Enforcement Officer and served as Courthouse Security Deputy for many years. And the word at the courthouse was you didn’t want her shooting at you because she was a better marksman than any!

This public servant was always looking for ways to help anyone in need, always looking for programs and other services she thought would assist them. A close friend reflected fondly, “She was a great force at the Courthouse, a friend to all of us and everyone knew who she was. She probably knew more about the history of Lamb County Government than anyone alive.”

In addition to her public service endeavors, she was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Littlefield and sang in the choir; in addition to being the primary caretaker of her parents and a brother.

While I did not personally know her, I have heard only wonderful stories that attest to her service, character and friendship.

It is my honor to present this award to Jean Streety, in honor of her daughter Gina Streety, our 2021 Woman of the Year.

Justin Balderas introduced Lamb County Judge Mike DeLoach, as “Man of the Year”.

The Man of the Year was born in and raised in Lamb County. So Lamb County is very important to him. So much that he farmed in Lamb County for 14 years. He has also worked in EMS in Lamb County since 1990 in many different capacities such as starting at Amherst EMS as a volunteer and then was instrumental in starting Littlefield EMS’ partially-paid volunteer service and then working full time as a Licensed Paramedic for the City of Littlefield EMS. He also obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Ag Business from Wayland University.

He has guided and taught many students while working for TTUHSC, South Plains College and Clovis Community College. He developed and runs his own Education Program, West Texas EMS Resources, to further allow students to take EMS classes in Lamb County and surrounding counties. He is Chairman of the South Plains Emergency Medical Services that provides guidance and Medical Direction for all the EMS services in Lamb County. He was appointed by Past Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Governor’s EMS and Advisory Council and was recently reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott for a 3 ^rd term.

He continues to further his endeavors to strengthen the position of Lamb County by being a member of the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) Board since 2011. He is on the board of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. He serves as a board member of the Central Plains MHMR. Mike is married to Kelly who is a reading interventionist at Littlefield ISD. They have two grown children, Kristin who is a communication specialist with UMC Lubbock EMS, and Justin who is the Director of Donor Relations for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Greater West Texas in San Angelo. He supports his church- First United Methodist Church and is a member of Littlefield Rotary and the Masonic Lodge.

With all this said the one thing he doesn’t know is— Why He is this year’s man of the YEAR.

Tonight, he is being honored for his steadfast leadership for Lamb County. He swore to uphold the office of Lamb County Judge when he won his latest reelection. He knew the challenges of the office and he know the compensation wasn’t going to put him on the Forbes’s Billionaires list.

Mike DeLoach lives and breathes “Lamb County, Texas, and Sam Houston.” Lamb County needed someone who cared. Someone who had experience in healthcare. Someone who knew the law. His entire career prepared him for what our county would ask of him in 2020.

When Lamb County needed someone at the helm, the Lamb County Judge came prepared for a fight. He made countless decisions to do what was right. His decisions had consequences. He didn’t think of himself, his reelection, or his future paycheck. He thought of the citizens of Lamb County and how best to protect them without infringing on their rights.

This took guts. He communicated on all fronts—from his constituents to all levels of government. Like many of us, the challenges of 2020 uprooted our daily routines. The Lamb County Judge took account of it all. He never once claimed his role was more challenging than any other. He always claimed the opposite. He grieved for the lost souls, sick, the jobless, the healthcare workers, the kids, the lonely and elderly and the ones we lost during Covid 2020.

County Judges were asked around the state to keep their county leaders organized, informed, & engaged. He did that for Lamb County.

Thank You sir for your honorable service to us, our city, and our county. Please join me in honoring County Judge Mike DeLoach as the 2021, Chamber of Commerce, Man of the Year.

Lupe Marquez and Stephen Hays introduced the Manuel and Hilda Miranda Family as a beautiful example of what every family should aspire to be.

This “Family of the Year” is a model of a family that loves one another, loves Littlefield, and loves their church, their jobs, & their friends. These parents set the standard for what it takes to be a family: a loving marriage, partnership, hard work, and dedication. This couple of 32 years have two hard working, caring, thoughtful, and selfless daughters, and a son-in-law.

They have two grandsons who both attend Littlefield ISD. One grandson is in the 4 ^th grade and the other in the 2 ^nd grade. The father of this family, employed by Patterson Farms for 30 years, sets a tremendous example for our younger generation! The mother of this family has worked for Littlefield Independent School District for 37 years. Anyone who has had the honor to meet and know her knows what a difference she makes in our little Wildcats’ lives. She consistently goes above and beyond to help everyone in need around her.

One daughter graduated from Littlefield High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature from Texas Tech University. She achieved this great accomplishment while raising her two precious boys. Her two perfect boys are special needs, who have Down Syndrome. She is flexible, thoughtful, loyal, helpful, and a wonderful friend. We, at Newton Insurance, are so thankful for her! We, along with this whole community, have witnessed her unending positive attitude in the face of such adversity. Nothing slows this sweet family down. One daughter graduated from Texas Tech with a Teaching Degree and currently teaches at Lubbock Cooper. She undoubtedly got this passion to teach from her awesome mother. Her husband also works at Lubbock Cooper as a custodian. These daughters were both involved in school sports and extra-curricular activities and represented their school and their hometown of Littlefield very well. These girls want our schools to thrive and are such encouragers to us all.

I first got to know this family when I was a cheer sponsor and the mom drove our bus for football and basketball games. She not only took care of me as a sponsor, but took care of each cheerleader, mascot, and flag runner as if they were her own. She also made sure that we had a snack (they are such talented cooks), that our hair was fixed, giving us advice, and loving on us. It didn’t take long to realize how outstanding this family is in every way imaginable; they quickly became someone we all trusted and loved.

The integrity of this family is amazing. They do what they should no matter if someone is watching or not watching. These two parents have so much to be proud of and it is all because of the love they have for their community, for their family, and God. This family is very active in the Catholic Church where they volunteer their time and talents to help others. They tirelessly give their time and energy to our schools and community. 2020 has been a difficult year for many, and this family has made it a point to help those in need during times of tragedy, providing meals, words of encouragement, and prayer. We are all blessed that this family has chosen to call Littlefield – Home. Today’s society needs more people like our 2021 Chamber of Commerce “Family of the Year” the Manuel & Hilda Miranda Family.

Lupe Marquez introduced Nancy Sewell for the Blakely Award, in recognition of an Educational Innovator for outstanding contributions to our youth and Littlefield ISD.

Leadership. Vision. Commitment. Teamwork. Openness. Positive Effect. Perseverance. Excellence. Work Ethic. Vision. Patience. Respect. These are the qualities that tonight’s recipient, Nancy Sewell, demonstrates daily.

This teacher’s ability to instruct students with reading difficulties is unsurpassed. Her determination to help students succeed is unparalleled. She is willing to instruct students 45 minutes before school starts and is willing to stay after school DAILY to tutor students. Many days, she works through her lunch period just to support a student. She has unending patience and teaches her students perseverance though example. Students look forward to going to her class as she makes each child feel special and they know that she is there to help them succeed. She can teach ANY child to read. She is a driven teacher who develops inspiring relationships with her students. She is a faithful summer school teacher giving students extra instruction and the confidence and skills they need to be successful.

She is also driven to develop her skills as a teacher. She is presently working on her second master’s degree, in order to earn the Reading Specialist certification. She embraces any opportunity for professional development, and is a strong believer in teamwork. She shares her wealth of ideas with colleagues and is willing to offer any assistance that she can.

She is willing to help students of all ages from Pre-K through seniors in high school. Her specialty is reading, but she is willing to help students succeed in all areas. She can be found playing the piano for band students, accompanying countless students at the UIL state solo/ensemble contest. She teaches piano every day after school. She is a dedicated children’s Sunday School teacher. She is willing to assist with children’s musical programs at school and church. She is a positive influence in the lives of countless young people.

She has 43 years of teaching experience. Her first 29 years were spent teaching first grade. Since she was passionate about making sure every student could read, she became the reading interventionist at the primary school.

She is a graduate of Littlefield High School and a life-long Wildcat. She holds a master’s degree from Texas Tech University.

Her husband, Raymond, is a farmer in the Spade area. She is a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.