Welden, Wyrick honored for their outstanding service
By MARIANNE THOMASSONmarianne@newnan.com
Gary Welden and Charles Wyrick were honored Tuesday as Newnan Kiwanis members who have given outstanding service this past year.
The awards banquet was held at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, an extension of the Coweta Board of Education, recognizing the Kiwanis Club’s contributions to the Centre and the myriad of services provided to Coweta’s students.
In making the presentation, Kiwanian Frank Powers stated, “The Henry C. Heinz Endowment was created in 2002 to honor those Georgia Kiwanians who have exhibited outstanding dedication and committment to Kiwanis. A donation of $1,000 is made to the foundation, and the interest is used to service the youth of Georgia in the form of scholarships and other financial support.
“Heinz was a vice president and director of C&S Bank in Atlanta, was the founder and later president of the Atlanta Boys Club and was also the son-in-law of Coca-Cola founder Asa Griggs Candler,” Powers continued. He was the first Georgian named as president of Kiwanis International in 1927-28.
Welden was selected for the award as a “Kiwanian who has demonstrated the spirit of service to Kiwanis as exemplified by Heinz. The $1,000 donation may come from an individual, the Kiwanis Club, a division or any other group of Kiwanians.
Wyrick was presented with the George F. Hixon Award of the Kiwanis International Foundation by Kiwanian Larry Peterson. A contribution of $1,000 was made in his name to the Kiwanis International Foundation.
“The Foundation was established in 1983 to honor Hixon, the first president of Kiwanis International, and to fund the foundation which supports the needs of children and the Kiwanis family,” said Peterson.
“The contribution was made to honor Wyrick to extend our thanks for your dedicated service to Kiwanis, the Kiwanis Club of Newnan, your community and the world.”
Peterson concluded, “We encourage you to wear this medallion at special club, division, district and Kiwanis International functions.
Perfect attendance awards were announced for Frank Barron, 39 years; Mike Barber, 27 years; Bud Freeburg, 24 years; John Anthony, 16 years; Don Chapman, eight years; Carol Hill, three years; Jay Awbrey and Scott Cortner, two years; Gary Welden and Tommy Ferrell, one year.
The Atkinson Elementary School Show Choir, led by Karen Moseley, provided a Christmas concert for the entertainment.
