University of Arkansas at Monticello Chancellor Dr. Jack Lassiter and Juanita Webb, president of the Drew County Extension Homemakers Council, were recipients Monday night of the Drew County Man and Woman of the Year awards at the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce and Monticello Economic Development Commission’s annual awards banquet.
The Industry of the Year award went to Drew Memorial Hospital and Rabb Construction was named Business of the Year.
Educator of the Year awards went Angie Goodding, a third grade teacher at Monticello Intermediate School who was recently selected as the Southeast Arkansas regional teacher of the year; Jennifer Knowles, a first grade teacher at Drew Central Elementary School; and Dr. Laura Evans, Dean of the University of Arkansas at Monticello School of Nursing.
The Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors selected the man and woman of the year and the business of the year, while the Monticello Economic Development Commission selected the industry of the year. The educators of the year were selected by the schools where they are employed.
Jack Lassiter is more than worthy of this honor of distinction as Man of the Year 2012. Dr. Lassiter is truly the leader of this Region called Cornerstone. Dr. Lassiter in the midst of the hardest and most difficult economic times since the Great Depression, coupled with a serious illness out of true faith(being the Giant Christian Gentlemen he is) against all odds and utilizing every practical resource and entity he could grasp and sale his vision for the 21st century future of this region propelled Monticello, Arkansas via the Great and Historic Academic Institution he Commands as Chancellor the center and future of South and Southeast Arkansas. His untiring initiative With the Forestry Department and the funding he secured and facilities erected now directs every wood by product entity to his doorsteps and the future of Green energy and Forest Procurement is the engine that will propel this Region as one the outstanding Economic Arenas in the Greatest Nation in the History of Man/Woman kind, The United States of America all because of the Love, Faith and untiring initiatives of this Giant of a man, Dr. Jack Lassiter; again, congratulations and continued Blessings/Favor and the prosperity it brings from You our most honorable, noble and distinguished Chancellor at the University of Arkansas-Monticello