Phil Riddle
editor@weatherforddemocrat.com
On a night when Weatherford’s business leaders recognized their own, one stood humbly above the rest.
Local restaurateur Roger Grizzard captured two top awards at Thursday’s annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
Grizzard was named the winner of the James H. Doss Award, and his restaurant, The Pizza Place, was named the chamber’s Small Business of the year.
Amid onlookers’ comments including, “It’s about time,” and “Long overdue,” Grizzard accepted his awards giving credit for his success to previous leaders in the city.
“When I came here in 1976, I met some wonderful people,” he said. “They motivated me to be the kind of citizens they were. Mister Doss set the bar very high. It’s an honor to win this award that bears his name.”
In accepting his second trophy of the evening, Grizzard recalled the comments of a local businessman who said he liked Weatherford as a small town and was tired of the city’s growth.
“Weatherford is like a 12-year-old child,” Grizzard told chamber members. “Like it or not, that child is going to be 14, 15, 16 and 17. You are the people who have said, ‘I want this 13-, 14- or 15-year-old to grow into something I can be proud of.”
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler was named the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year.
The emotional Fowler said the award means a great deal to him.
“Not bad for a barefoot kid from out on Dicey Road,” he said.
Pulliam Pools was named the year’s top large business, Sue Ann Westhoff claimed the night’s Athena Award and Donna Tillman earned her second consecutive Ambassador of the Year award.
Outgoing Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Randy Cox, prior to ceremonially handing the gavel over to his replacement, John Hinton, thanked chamber members for a successful year-long tenure.
“Weatherford and Parker County ... It’s a great place to be,” he said. “It’s the BEST place to be.”
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Chamber honors Grizzard with two awards
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