Bay City Tribune

The Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture held its 87th annual banquet and awards ceremony at the Bay City Civic Center Thursday, Jan. 21.

In an endearing twist of coincidence, Ernest Opella and Sharyl McDonald, a father and daughter duo, were named as the 2009 Man and Woman of the Year.

Kristy Salas, Bay City Junior High AVID teacher, named the Bay City's 2009 Educator of the Year.

The Matagorda Area and Sargent Area Chambers of Commerce joined along with the festivities in a spirit of county unity.

Susan Mitchell, Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce president, presented awards to Donald Simons, a Matagorda ISD school board trustee, and Delo Thomsen as Educator and Citizen of the Year.

The evening began with a social and seafood buffet.

And included a friendly bidding war in a silent and live auction that raised several thousand dollars for the Chamber.

Steven Parker, 2009 Chamber of Commerce chairman, performed his final duties before passing the gavel over to the 2010 chairwoman, Cathy Gann.

Barbara Sliva, 2008 Woman of the Year, was given the honor of passing the torch to McDonald.

"When I read who would be receiving the award this morning I couldn't have been happier," said Sliva.

"She's a lovely person and I've really enjoyed getting to know her."

Sliva listed many of McDonald's accomplishments, including being co-founder of Texas Children's Hospital Project Doc, which wrote curriculum to teach medical students how to care for terminal pediatric patients in the home setting; past president and "girl of the year" for the Eta Mu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi; and cofounder of the Matagorda County Children's Museum.

McDonald has also held many leadership positions in Parent Teacher Organizations; church committees; KIDS; Matagorda County Historical Society; Christian Women of America; Bay City Junior Service League; and Keep Bay City Beautiful.

She has served as a board member for the Matagorda County Museum and Texana.

McDonald, first lady of Matagorda County, was raised in a home where public service was a way of life and a life that she continues.

When Billy Mann, 2008 Man of the Year, introduced Opella as this year's honoree, Opella went straight across the room to hug his daughter before accepting his award.

Mann said Opella's leadership and service to the community spans several decades.

Opella is an Eagle Scout; former Bay City mayor and city councilman; he has held many leadership roles in Lions Club throughout the years including past district governor; and is a Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus #3070.

He is a past president of the Matagorda County Museum Association; past president of his Church council; and has served on the Wharton County Junior College Foundation board of directors for over 10 years.

"His leadership spans several decades and his influence on our community has been tremendous," said Mann.

"He along with his wife and family continue to shape the future of Matagorda County."

Ric Carlin, education committee chairman, introduced Bay City Independent School District's teachers of the year for all seven campuses: Mary Ann Morris, of Cherry Elementary; Candace Johnston, Tenie Holmes Elementary; Katie Hastings, Linnie Roberts Elementary; Sampson Gardner, Bay City Intermediate School; Cindy Diener, Bay City High School; Clare Bowman, McAllister Intermediate School; and Salas.

After each teacher of the year received a certificate Carlin presented Salas with the 2009 Educator of the Year plaque.

She is a Bay City High School and Texas A&M graduate who has spent all nine years of her teaching career in Bay City, said Carlin.

She teaches eighth grade language arts and AVID, a national College prep program that serves students in the academic middle who show potential and desire to succeed,

"Kristy mothers, coaches and inspires each of her AVID students on a daily basis, all while maintaining the mountains of paperwork that his accredited program requires," said Carlin.

"Her work with the AVID students has many of them succeeding for the first time in their lives."

Thomsen, Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, has been a Matagorda resident for nearly 30 years.

One of her most significant contributions to the town has been her work with the Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department as an Emergency Medical Services team leader and grant writer.

"She was able to obtain multiple grants which purchased most of the state of the art emergency equipment for the township of Matagorda," said Mitchell.

She continues to volunteer her life-saving skills at the county level one or two days a week.

She is also a musician for the First Baptist Church of Matagorda; serves as president of the Matagorda Historical Society; and is the chairman of the Matagorda Community Latchkey Program.

Mitchell introduced Donald Simons as Matagorda Educator of the Year, explaining, "He is not on staff. He is not on school payroll. And he does not teach in the classroom."

Simons has served on the Matagorda ISD board of trustees for 25 years and volunteered his expertise as the project manager of the school's three-year $5.8 million building improvement project.

"His work on this project alone certainly qualifies him to be recognized as a person who has significantly improved education in our area," said Mitchell.

Pcesetter sponsors of the banquet were: AT&T, Bay City Community Development Corporation; Edward Jones Barbara Sanders with Bay City Abstract and Title; ConocoPhillips; Frist State Bank Bay City; Matagorda Regional Medical Center; EXEA Corporation; STPNOC; and Wharton County Junior College.

Corporate sponsors were: Bill Bell Realty; HEB; Heritage Homes; International Bank of Commerce; Legacy Assisted and Independent Living; Popek's Turf; Wal-Mart; and Wells Fargo Bank.