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Since 1973, Enid’s recipient of the 2008 Citizen of the Year award has made it her personal goal to help disadvantaged youth in Garfield County.
Now 103 years old, Thelma Gungoll continues to provide financial support for the area’s youth who need temporary shelter and an incentive to get their lives together.
Gungoll was named 2008 Citizen of the Year during the annual Greater Enid Chamber of Com-merce banquet Thursday.
She was surrounded by family and friends as she was honored with a standing ovation Thursday night.
Bert Mackie, a previous Citizen of the Year award winner, presented Gungoll this year’s award, reminding her she got him involved in the initial campaign to develop a youth shelter.
“Thank you from this community for a job well done,” Mackie said.
The chamber’s annual banquet also recognized the volunteer of the year, business person of the year and chamber Ambassador of the year.
Gungoll has been nearly a lifelong resident of northwest Oklahoma. She started her quest to help disadvantaged youth when she got a group of supporters together to found a shelter called Youth Services of North Central Oklahoma. The center provided temporary shelter to address the special needs of children affected by abuse, neglect and delinquent behavior.
The shelter eventually moved to some old military barracks in 1984. In 2006, Gungoll generously donated the seed money to build a new Youth and Family Services Shelter, which will be completed later this year.
Les Beckham, who for many has been the face of Enid American Legion Base-ball, was named 2008 Volunteer of the Year. He has been an active member of American Legion Argonne Post 4 since World War II, serving as commander three times.
His greatest devotion, however, has been to the American Legion baseball program, of which Enid has become a powerhouse. He has served as Enid baseball chairman since 1964 and has seen the Majors through three state championships and the 2005 American Legion World Series championship.
Beckham received his award with good humor.
“Many of you think I do this because I’m helping the program,” he said. “I really do it because I get the best seat at the ballpark.”
Cheri Ezzell, executive director of Community Development Support Associ-ation, was named 2008 Business Person of the Year. She was honored for leading the effort for CDSA to purchase the largest vacant property in downtown — the old Burchardt Furniture building.
When renovated, the building will serve as a central source for services for all members of the community, housing CDSA programs and many other nonprofit businesses.
Patrece Allen was honored as Chamber Ambassador of the Year. She retired from OGE Electric Services after 30 years, then retired from the Garfield County Assessor’s Office after 10 years of service. She now works part time for Kelley Kasey, Edward Jones Investments.
James W. Strate Center for Business Development was given the Civic Improvement Award 2008. The $2 million center just opened for business on the campus of Autry Technology Center and will help qualified start-up businesses get a good footing.
Retiring Enid Public Schools Super-intendent Kem Keithly received the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award. Keithly has served as Enid superintendent for 24 years and will retire at the end of this month.
Keithly told the crowd he planned to do some consulting work for Oklahoma State School Boards Association as well as help them with superintendent searches in the next year.
A Special Recognition Award was given to American West artist Harold T. Holden, or “H” as he is known to most people in the area.
Holden has received several honors in the state for his Western art.
