Bill Cornman received the George Holst Award and Bill Orton was awarded the Tiger Lane Community Spirit Award at Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation’s annual meeting Dec. 8.
Glen Smith, last year’s recipient of the George Holst Award, Smith pointed to Cornman’s leadership as a city councilman.
Cornman’s philosophy in his pursuits for the community was that he “always did everything possible,” Smith said.
Smith noted Cornman’s role in supervising construction of the Center for Energy Development (CED), which now houses Wharton County Junior College classes and process technology training.
Cornman also played a key role, as a Bay City Community Development Corporation (BCCDC) board member, in helping bring the Schulman Movie Bowl Grille entertainment center to Bay City – and seeing it built.
“It was a major development in the city,” Smith said.
Cornman frequently was at the job site as the building progressed – memorably when the large panels for the building were brought in by helicopter.
Smith talked about Cornman’s work in upgrading the airport into the present Bay City Regional Airport and ensuring the airport was “properly supplied.”
In 2018, Cornman joined the Wellness Matagorda effort to develop an aquatics center for Matagorda County.
Cornman was an advocate for the community’s need for an aquatics center when he was a councilman and he still works to develop the project today.
As a councilman, Smith credited Cornman for “never losing sight and for guiding the council through tumultuous times.”
A 1966 University of Tulsa engineering graduate, Cornman was at Celanese at Bay City for 30 years including being named manager of operations in 1992.
“It was an honor and privilege to serve,” Cornman said in receiving the award from Smith.
Stuart Lynn, last year’s recipient for the Tiger Lane Award, presented the 2021 honor to Orton.
“One wants to see the community prosper,” Lynn said, calling Orton a “visionary – above and beyond all of Matagorda County.”
A graduate of Alvin Community College, Orton began his law enforcement with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office in 1997.
He later was in charge of courthouse security in 2003 and became Precinct 6 Constable, a position he left to run as County Sheriff in 2020.
Orton instituted a rigorous Sargent beach patrol system, accounting for a 500% increase in beach permits, Lynn said.
Orton would patrol in an all-terrain vehicle along the beach.
If he saw someone with a vehicle without a permit he sold them one.
He is well-known in Sargent for his patrols and outreach to different neighborhoods.
As Constable, Orton offered his expertise to residential homeowners in installing home security systems, Lynn noted.
He said Orton’s efforts were successful in the “outlook for Sargent” and promoting the community.
“I know he’s proven” to be the Tiger Lane recipient, Lynn said, asking Orton to come up for the award.
“I’m a big proponent” of a philosophy that “if you don’t treat people right they won’t come back.”
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