The Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will celebrate the legacies of the late George Holst of Palacios and Claude “Tiger” Lane of Sargent at its annual meeting in December.
After COVID-19 forced a virtual presentation of the awards in 2020, MCEDC will honor in person the 23rd recipient of the George Holst Award for excellence in community vision and economic leadership is announced.
The economic development corporation will also recognize its third annual Tiger Lane Community Spirit Award recipient honoring an individual who has championed community and economic development in Matagorda County this past year.
Each year the MCEDC board of directors seeks nominations from the community for outstanding economic leaders to be considered for these prestigious awards.
Since 1998, it has indeed been some of Matagorda County’s finest who were added to the ranks of the elite George Holst Award recipients:
1998 – Willie Younger, Texas A&M University operator of Kharma Floating Classroom Boat and Marine Education Center in Palacios;
1999 – Myra Brhlik, Community volunteer extraordinaire and Palacios EDC;
2001 – Mike Sherrod, Palacios EDC executive director;
2002 – Jim Frankson, Bay City CPA and member of Industrial Foundation and Matagorda County EDC;
2003 – Kathy Nichols, Palacios Hospital Administrator and City Councilwoman;
2004 – Bert Huebner, Bay City Attorney;
2005 – Bobby Wilkinson, Matagorda County businessman and member of Industrial Foundation and Matagorda County EDC;
2006 – Lower Colorado River Authority;
2007 – Mitch Thames, President and CEO of Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture;
2008 – Richard Knapik, Bay City Mayor;
2009 – Nate McDonald, Matagorda County Judge;
2010 – Ken Johnson, Palacios businessman and member of the Palacios EDC and Matagorda County EDC;
2011 – DC Dunham, Executive Director of the Bay City Community Development Corporation;
2012 – Owen Bludau, Matagorda County EDC executive director;
2013 – Betty Scurlock, Matagorda County Hospital District and economic development activist from Palacios; and
2014 - Erwin Ward, Bay City realtor and past member of the Matagorda County EDC and Bay City Community Development Corporation.
2015 – Michael D. Griffith, Port of Bay City Authority Chairman;
2016 – John Chipman, Palacios area businessman and member of the Matagorda County EDC and Palacios EDC;
2017 – Arthur J. Milberger, Matagorda County businessman;
2018 – Loy Sneary, Matagorda County Judge, rancher and businessman;
2019 – David & Marilyn Sitz, Matagorda County business owners;
2020 – Glen Smith, Palacios Mayor and community volunteer.
The Tiger Lane Community Spirit Award seeks to honor the memory of a faithful, hardworking, forward-thinking, collaborative long-term member of the MCEDC Board of Directors.
Just like Lane, recipients of this award should be cheerleaders of progress and development in their community. They should be consensus builders in their community, striving to see growth for the benefit of the greater good.
There are only two deserving individuals who have earned this award from MCEDC since its inception in 2019:
2019 — Sue Milberger, Matagorda County businesswoman and community volunteer;
2020 – Stuart Lynn, Gulf Coast regional developer, Matagorda County businessman and community volunteer.
The MCEDC board will rely on community nominations as the committee chooses the worthiest candidates for each award.
Individuals and organizations can nominate or self-nominate.
There are no restrictions as to age, race or gender. It is preferred that nominees be available to attend the MCEDC Annual Meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 to receive the award in person, if selected.
Nomination forms should be submitted by Friday, Nov. 26 and can be obtained at the Matagorda County EDC office, 1112 7th Street in Bay City, or by calling 979-245-8913 or by emailing MCEDC Director of Communication Heather Case at hmenzies@mcedc.net.
