District 73 State of Representative Poncho Nevarez was keynote speaker during the event and eloquently spoke to an attentive audience consisting of public officials, business owners and managers, among other community membersl.
The highlight of the night was the announcement of the 2017 “Citizen of the Year” Award.
Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Vice-President Dr. Claudia Wright announced the six members of the community who had been nominated including Lisa Cain (LC’s Powerhouse), Sandy Tovar (The Buddy Foundation) Gary Sapoff (Veteran), Pablo Garcia (C.C. Winn Student Council), Timothy “Tim”Hardt (Hardt Farms), Juan Martinez (Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Pharmacy).
The 2017 Citizen of the Year Award was then presented to Tim Hardt from the Maverick County Junior Livestock Association.
Hardt thanked the Chamber of Commerce and those in attendance showing his appreciation for the nomination and honor bestowed upon him.
“I’d like to thank each and everyone of y’all. It’s an honor to receive such a prestigious award. I didn’t know anything about this until Wednesday at 5 o’ clock when Sandra called me and told me I needed to be at the chamber banquet and the reason for it,” said Hardt. “I’m very honored and I want to thank the chamber for putting on such a great event, and I’d like to thank the people that nominated me for this award. I want to thank the community. I enjoyed doing every minute of the time I spent with the youth and the community, and I will continue to support the youth and the community.”
The recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award is chosen based on outstanding service and volunteerism to the community.
The purpose of the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award is to honor and encourage the community’s sense of volunteerism by honoring those who volunteer their time and effort without compensation , seeking the betterment of the community and it citizens.
Past recipients include Dr. Claudia Rodriguez-Wright, Paolo Alcozer, Romelia Cardona, Humberto Garza, Roberto Mireles, Enrique Montalvo, Jr., Morris Libson and Dora Libson.