ARTICLE
CALEDONIA TWP. — The Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual banquet Thursday at the Z Hall in Caledonia Township, where multiple awards were doled out to local businesses and community leaders. The final award of the night — the Legacy Award — is a brand-new honor that was presented this year for the first time. It was given to longtime Argus-Press owners Tom and Cathy Campbell, the husband-wife team that has been part of the paper for a combined 90 years. “Each year we come to together to recognize the remarkable people and organizations who help shape Shiawassee County,” said Chamber Board President Laura Archer, CEO of Shiawassee Family YMCA. “But this year, we were presented with a moment that called for something more. It became clear that none of our existing awards quite captured the depth of our gratitude we felt for the legacy and impact we were being asked to honor.” Cathy Campbell began working at the Argus in 1979, while still in high school. Tom Campbell, whose family has owned the newspaper for 131 years, joined the company full time in 1982. The two fell in love, married, and have been with the publication every since. In May, the Campbell’s sold The Argus-Press to Alabama-based Boone Newsmedia. The couple plan on remaining on staff until the end of June to assist with the transition. For years, Tom has been the paper’s publisher and Cathy has been the advertising director. The Argus-Press is the longest-serving member of the Chamber, having joined in 1908. “This award was created specifically for this moment,” Archer said. “The depth of impact, the years of service and the legacy behind it all, called for something new, something that could appropriately reflect the meaning of the occasion. “Tom and Cathy Campbell of The Argus-Press have given so much to this community, through decades of leadership, service and commitment.” The Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts sponsored the award. Tom Campbell, a fourth-generation member of the Campbell family to own the paper (his great-grandfather George T. Campbell purchased it in 1885), spoke to the about-250 people gathered at the banquet center. He joked that Cathy had a few years seniority then he, “So when we were young, she always had more vacation time.” And jokingly lamented not becoming a member of the Chamber immediately when it was founded in 1902. “I don’t know what my great-grandfather was thinking for six years, but we’re glad to be the longest-standing member and I’ll just apologize now that we didn’t get started earlier,” he said. Tom Campbell said he was thankful to find a buyer that will keep the Argus going. “We were fortunate to find an organization that was going to buy our facility and keep our jobs there that involve producing the papers,” he said, adding that Boone has retained all of the business’s employees. Prior to the Legacy Award presentation, while speaking about the Citizen of the Year Award, sponsored each year by the Argus, Tom Campbell introduced new publisher Sheila Mondeau, who has been with The Argus-Press for about four years. The Citizen Award was given to Rex Wheeler, owner of Owosso Speedway and Wheeler Trucking. Kimberly Renwick, executive director of Shiawassee Community Foundation, and last year’s Citizen of the Year, presented the award to Wheeler. She read from the letter authored by Wheeler’s nominator. “Rex has poured his energy, resources and heart into revitalizing and expanding Owosso Speedway, transforming it into a major regional destination,” Renwick read. Wheeler is spearheading expansion efforts at the speedway, planning a $180-million upgrade that will include expanded seating, along with the addition of a campground with hundreds of campsites, two restaurants and a hotel. “His investments are driving real economic momentum for Shiawassee County,” Renwick read. “And when Rex builds, he builds local. He makes it a priority to do everything he can to hire local contractors, buy from local suppliers and insist on keeping many of those dollars right here in our community.” Wheeler 15 years ago founded Wheeler Trucking with one employee – himself. Now, the company has hubs in six states and owns 300 trucks. A total of 486 are employed by Wheeler, and he says he plans to hire another 150, making him one of the top employers in Shiawassee County. “When we do something, we’re going to do it right,” Wheeler said about the speedway expansion. “We are building the nicest, safest short track in the United States. NASCAR officials will be at our track on July 16. We are doing everything from (entertainment) for 6-year-old kids to on up to the top level in motor sports.” Other awards handed out by the Chamber Thursday include: Chairman’s Award: Char Hebekeuser Mission Award: Karen Parzych Heart of Shiawassee Award: Cathy Sprague-Emans of Catholic Charities Entrepreneur Award: Bryan Marks of Great Lakes Family of Companies Innovation Award: Memorial Healthcare Community Champion Award (voted on at the banquet): Jamie Semans of Shiawassee Health and Wellness Athena Leadership Award: Hannah Gottschalk, director of SafeCenter
CALEDONIA TWP. — The Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual banquet Thursday at the Z Hall in Caledonia Township, where multiple awards were doled out to local businesses and community leaders.
The final award of the night — the Legacy Award — is a brand-new honor that was presented this year for the first time. It was given to longtime Argus-Press owners Tom and Cathy Campbell, the husband-wife team that has been part of the paper for a combined 90 years.
“Each year we come to together to recognize the remarkable people and organizations who help shape Shiawassee County,” said Chamber Board President Laura Archer, CEO of Shiawassee Family YMCA. “But this year, we were presented with a moment that called for something more. It became clear that none of our existing awards quite captured the depth of our gratitude we felt for the legacy and impact we were being asked to honor.”
Cathy Campbell began working at the Argus in 1979, while still in high school. Tom Campbell, whose family has owned the newspaper for 131 years, joined the company full time in 1982. The two fell in love, married, and have been with the publication every since. In May, the Campbell’s sold The Argus-Press to Alabama-based Boone Newsmedia. The couple plan on remaining on staff until the end of June to assist with the transition. For years, Tom has been the paper’s publisher and Cathy has been the advertising director.
The Argus-Press is the longest-serving member of the Chamber, having joined in 1908.
“This award was created specifically for this moment,” Archer said. “The depth of impact, the years of service and the legacy behind it all, called for something new, something that could appropriately reflect the meaning of the occasion.
“Tom and Cathy Campbell of The Argus-Press have given so much to this community, through decades of leadership, service and commitment.”
The Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts sponsored the award.
Tom Campbell, a fourth-generation member of the Campbell family to own the paper (his great-grandfather George T. Campbell purchased it in 1885), spoke to the about-250 people gathered at the banquet center.
He joked that Cathy had a few years seniority then he, “So when we were young, she always had more vacation time.” And jokingly lamented not becoming a member of the Chamber immediately when it was founded in 1902.
“I don’t know what my great-grandfather was thinking for six years, but we’re glad to be the longest-standing member and I’ll just apologize now that we didn’t get started earlier,” he said.
Tom Campbell said he was thankful to find a buyer that will keep the Argus going.
“We were fortunate to find an organization that was going to buy our facility and keep our jobs there that involve producing the papers,” he said, adding that Boone has retained all of the business’s employees.
Prior to the Legacy Award presentation, while speaking about the Citizen of the Year Award, sponsored each year by the Argus, Tom Campbell introduced new publisher Sheila Mondeau, who has been with The Argus-Press for about four years.
The Citizen Award was given to Rex Wheeler, owner of Owosso Speedway and Wheeler Trucking.
Kimberly Renwick, executive director of Shiawassee Community Foundation, and last year’s Citizen of the Year, presented the award to Wheeler. She read from the letter authored by Wheeler’s nominator.
“Rex has poured his energy, resources and heart into revitalizing and expanding Owosso Speedway, transforming it into a major regional destination,” Renwick read.
Wheeler is spearheading expansion efforts at the speedway, planning a $180-million upgrade that will include expanded seating, along with the addition of a campground with hundreds of campsites, two restaurants and a hotel.
“His investments are driving real economic momentum for Shiawassee County,” Renwick read. “And when Rex builds, he builds local. He makes it a priority to do everything he can to hire local contractors, buy from local suppliers and insist on keeping many of those dollars right here in our community.”
Wheeler 15 years ago founded Wheeler Trucking with one employee – himself. Now, the company has hubs in six states and owns 300 trucks. A total of 486 are employed by Wheeler, and he says he plans to hire another 150, making him one of the top employers in Shiawassee County.
“When we do something, we’re going to do it right,” Wheeler said about the speedway expansion. “We are building the nicest, safest short track in the United States. NASCAR officials will be at our track on July 16. We are doing everything from (entertainment) for 6-year-old kids to on up to the top level in motor sports.”
Other awards handed out by the Chamber Thursday include:
Chairman’s Award: Char Hebekeuser
Mission Award: Karen Parzych
Heart of Shiawassee Award: Cathy Sprague-Emans of Catholic Charities
Entrepreneur Award: Bryan Marks of Great Lakes Family of Companies
Innovation Award: Memorial Healthcare
Community Champion Award (voted on at the banquet): Jamie Semans of Shiawassee Health and Wellness
Athena Leadership Award: Hannah Gottschalk, director of SafeCenter