By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It was a celebration 80 years in the making.
Thursday night, the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and Laughlin Air Force Base celebrated the 80th Aniversario of the duo’s co-existence with the annual Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and Laughlin Air Force Base Dinner and Awards Banquet at the Del Rio Civic Center.
For many, it was a return to normalcy after the threat of COVID put a pause on the event. But a full house of chamber members, Laughlin personnel and distinguished guests laughed, hugged, reminisced and ate while the music of Angel Baena served as the soundtrack for the get together.
Following a rendition of the national anthem by Laura Leticia Amezcua, daughter of Eddie Amezcua Jr., and the presentation of the colors by the Laughlin honor guard, the evening go underway. For the younger Amezcua it was the first time she performed the song in public, and proud dad Eddie escorted her back to her seat amid a chorus of applause.
Before introducing the guest speaker for the event, Ron Bailey, emcee for the evening, listed some memorable dates in Laughlin’s history, including its beginnings in 1942. From there, guests were treated to a video highlighting Laughlin’s history and some of the famous faces who earned their wings at the pilot training base.
Lieutenant General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, commander, Air Education and Training Command, was the guest speaker. Webb began by highlighting other anniversaries taking place this year, such as the United States Air Force’s 75th anniversary and the 32nd anniversary of the Grow Your Own Program in Del Rio, and explained that the evening was not about the awards to be presented, but more about the unity between Del Rio and Laughlin and the people who make up both entities.
“(These awards) are about those in the community of Del Rio, they’re about airmen there at LAFB, and the kind of bonds that occur between them. I think it’s right and appropriate that in this time of anniversary season that we’re in that we take the time to celebrate the community and the heritage between the two. And at its essence, this event tonight is about people – the communities and the airmen that make a difference,” Webb said.
Following Webb’s remarks, Col. Craig D. Prather, 47th Flying Training Wing Commander at Laughlin, joined Webb onstage to present the 2021 Laughlin Air Force Base Awards.
Award winners were as follows:
Airman of the Year: SrA David Phaff
NCO of the Year: TSgt Nathan Higgins
SNCO of the Year: MSgt. Joshua Heidemann
CGO of the Year: Capt. Joshua Sanchez
FGO of the Year: Maj. Nicole Pries
Civilian Non-Supervisory Category 1 of the year: Kera Froembling
Civilian Non-Supervisory Category 2 of the Year: Primitvo Cuellar
Civilian Non-Supervisory Category 3 of the Year: Dariela Parizo
Civilian Supervisory Category 1 of the Year: Edward Garcia
Civilian Supervisory Category 2 of the Year: Johannes Thiel
Civilian Supervisory Category 3 of the Year: Gilbert Wheeler
Flight Chief of the Year: TSgt. Martha Mqatash
Flight Commander of the Year: Capt. Taylor Jacobsen
First Sergeant of the Year: MSgt. Bobby Roberts
Instructor Pilot of the Year: 1st Lt. Justin Blaich
Honor Guard Member of the Year: SrA Demaine Smiley
Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year: SSgt. Jesus Vega German
Volunteer of the Year: 1st Lt. Michael Gadalla
Key Spouse of the Year: Hannah Dean
Unit/Squadron of the Year: James McCourt
Team of the Year: 47th OSS/OSL
Following the Laughlin awards, outgoing chamber president Selina Velasquez and incoming president Nanca Rodriguez took to the stage to present the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards.
The city of Del Rio’s Transportation Department was recognized with the Community Impact Award for its continuing efforts to assist the residents of this area, especially during the February 2021 snowstorm in which drivers transported patients to and from Eagle Pass to receive life saving dialysis. Castulo Morin, Miguel del Castillo, Maria Cardenas, Mary Alice Ramirez, Maria Lourdes Torres, Feliciano Escobar and Arturo Moreno were honored with Moreno receiving the awards on behalf of the group.
Julio’s Chips was recognized with the Spotlight on Del Rio award for its continued growth including its rise to national prominence via television and Internet features as well as its sales in national store chains such as Walmart.
Mary Gibson was named Volunteer of the Year for her tireless support and devotion to aiding the chamber and the Military Affairs Association.
Cade and Sarah Sigmon were honored with the Entrepreneur of the Year award for their efforts to revitalize downtown Del Rio through their Mesquite Creek Outfitters business as well as investing in the community with the purchase of Russell’s True Value.
Rodriguez was honored with the Outstanding Ambassador award for her efforts to always being on the forefront of how to make Del Rio better, for singing the community’s praises and for making Del Rio a better place.
Amezcua was named as the recipient of the President’s Award for committing his time to making the community stronger and for his role in helping develop and unite Del Rio in projects that are designed to benefit the community today and tomorrow.
Amistad Industries was presented the Cross Border Economic Collaboration Achievement award for helping make this region economically healthier and for spurring economic growth in Del Rio and in its sister city of Ciudad Acuña. Accepting the award was Edgar Ramon, whose family oversees Amistad Industries.
Laughlin Air Force Base’s Team XL was also presented with a special We Are One award by Shannalea Taylor to commemorate 80 years of friendship, cooperation and partnership between Laughlin and Del Rio. Prather and his wife Korena accepted the award on behalf of Laughlin and were also presented with a custom-made fire pit courtesy of Tod Townsend.
Jeanne Slover, Military Affairs Association President, presented the final awards of the evening. Those awards were geared towards members and supports of the association, which works hand-in-hand with Laughlin through a variety of events and class sponsorships.
Marta Rodriguez and Joe Harrington were presented with the Best MAA Volunteer award for their work that saw Rodriguez serve as co-chair of the events committee and for making and donating hundreds of desserts for the events and Harrington working hard behind the grill at numerous MAA events.
GEO was named the winner of the MAA’s Wind Beneath Our Wings award for their efforts to support the MAA with food at every event.
Don Beeson, owner of Sirloin Stockade, was presented with the MAA’s Best Director’s award for his continued support of the association including the various meals prepared at a variety of events.
Char Smith from Arc-rite was given the MAA’s Best Wingman Award for her support, her skills and her dedication that saw her miss just one MAA event in the five years.
Randall and Carol Dissler were presented the MAA’s Business of the Year award on behalf of Hinds Well Service. The award recognizes the most supportive business in regards to the MAA.
The event ended with the traditional passing of the red high-heeled shoes from the outgoing chamber president to the incoming president. The passing of the shoes has been an ongoing tradition for chamber presidents for many years and has been carried on regardless of the sex of the presidents.
Velasquez had served as chamber president for three years, navigating the chamber’s executive board through the ongoing COVID pandemic era. The chamber banquet was her last official day as president.
“It has been my pleasure to serve the chamber and this community. I have enjoyed each moment and hold dear the friends I have made,” Velasquez, who thanked her husband and the chamber staff, said.
Holding back tears, Rodriguez expressed how much being chamber president meant to her.
“I just love Del Rio so much. This is my home, this is my community, this is where I want my kids to grow up so I just try to do everything I can to make it the best that I can, so being able to be your president of the chamber for this coming year is such a privilege and not something I take lightly so I hope I can represent you guys to the best of my ability and I have an open door so if you need anything just let me know,” Rodriguez said.
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