Two longtime Hermiston residents who have dedicated their time and energy to serving their community were honored Wednesday night at the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Awards banquet.
Man of the Year Roger Bounds and Woman of the Year Chris Finley were toasted last night for their community work.
“Oh, my God,” said Bounds as he got up from his seat after hearing his name called. It also happened to be his birthday and he was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” from the audience.
“I’m shocked,” he said.
He began his career in Hermiston for Inland Empire Bank and immediately got involved in the community. He served 10 years as a member of the Hermiston School Board, as well as on the Hermiston School District Budget Committee. He served nine years on the Good Shepherd Hospital Board of Directors as well as treasurer.
His commitment to education continued with his service as board member for the Hermiston Education Foundation, his involvement in the Meadowood Speech Camp golf tournament and serving as Boy Scout troop leader.
He is also a board member Emeritus for the High Desert Museum and worked on many state legislative and federal level committees and boards including the Board of Western Independent Bankers, American Bankers Association, Community Bankers of America and the Oregon Banker Association.
His commitment to service began much earlier, having served in the U.S. Army where he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses – a military decoration awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.”
On Wednesday, Bounds recalled his first time seeing Hermiston when his dad brought him here decades ago.
“It was the slobbiest-looking place I’d ever seen,” he said. “But my dad said it had the perfect location for future growth. ‘Just wait – this place will be great.’ We’ll, it is and it’s the people of Hermiston that make it great.”
Hermiston’s Woman of the Year has been an integral part of the community for nearly 40 years. Finley has been a member of the Hermiston City Council, the Planning Commission, Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Hermiston’s Saturday Market and both the Rotary and Altrusa clubs.
She and her husband owned a business in town and they started the Community Service Agriculture program. Finley is also very active in her church.
“Chris Finley is very passionate about the things she believes in,” said Danita Smith, one of the people nominating Finley. “You can always count on her to voice her opinion whether she agrees or disagrees. She will never hold back if she has something to say and that is a wonderful and powerful quality to the Woman of the Year. I am proud to call her one of my very best friends and personal mentor!”
“I love Hermiston,” said Finley, surrounded by her family. “Hermiston has been very good to me. Thank you.”
Alice Newman and the Walmart Distribution Center were given Awards of Merit Wednesday night. Newman has been a 4-H leader for multiple clubs for nearly 40 years including the longest standing livestock club in the area.
Newman was a 7-Eleven owner from 1988-2007 and donated to and sponsored numerous youth sports teams, community events, youth arts programs and school activities.
She has been a marching band chaperone and uniform “mom” since 1986, with over half of those years without a child or grandchild in the program.
She has served as a color guard coach, making costumes and flags for the students, served nine years as Girl Scout leader, Umatilla County Fair Court chaperone and has served as volunteer at the county fair as well as the Me and My Prince Ball.
Among the many contributions the Walmart Distribution Center has made to the community include donating merchandise and time to support over 72 charitable organizations this year including the Agape House, AYSO, Capeco, Hermiston FFA and more.
The distribution center has donated almost 300,000 pounds of merchandise, including 192,000 pounds of food to local food banks.
Oregon State Rep. Greg Smith was named the winner of the Nobel Laureate Award for his long service in the community and in the state Legislature. It was the first time the chamber had ever given out the honor and it is awarded to an individual who “exhibits professional accomplishments, overcomes obstacles and displays significant, innovative attributes which are beneficial to our region.”
U.S. Congressman Greg Walden presented Smith with the award.
Smith (R-Heppner) represents District 57 and currently serves as the officer to the Board for Morrow Development Corporation, a private partnership with the Port of Morrow, which provides financial management assistance for business development projects. Smith also serves as the contract director of the Small Business Development Center at Eastern Oregon University.
Smith has served on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government and was selected as chair of the Special Task Force on Jobs and the Economy, Chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development as well as many others.
Smith focuses his attention on issues critical to Northeast Oregon. He is an advocate for natural resources and supports stable funding for our public schools and while advocating for the state’s senior citizens. Each session, Smith has earned a 100-percent voting record with the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregonians for Food & Shelter and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
“If there is a project here or in the Columbia Basin, it has Greg’s fingerprints all over it,” said Walden.
“By all of us working together and being focused, we can continue to make Hermiston the great community it is,” Smith said.
The Fire Service Award went to Eldon Marcum who began his fire service career with the Stanfield Fire Department in 1973 and is currently with the Umatilla County Fire District No. 1. He is the longest-serving volunteer.
Umatilla County Fire District Chief Scott Stanton calls Marcum “a vital part of the success of Fire District 1.” Marcum volunteers his time to help with the annual Hermiston Rotary Cowboy Breakfast, the Stanfield FFA and supports numerous events by cooking his famous baked beans for golf tournaments, training academies and family and public events.
“He is the first to volunteer his time to help anyone move, haul equipment or just provide help when needed,” said Stanton.
Mike and Jonette Atkinson of Atkinson Staffing took home the Bob Severson Rotary Business of the Year Award. Mike Atkinson had the crowd in full laughter as he told a story of how he always wanted to save a life and win an award for it. He even went so far as to push a friend in the water just to save him. He later claimed to save the lives of six people – including himself – when he boarded a small plane that was intending to fly over the ocean. The pilot wanted to make sure the plane could hold the combined weight of the passengers and began asking each one their weight.
Atkinson said one “really big” woman claimed to weigh just 135 pounds. Atkinson wasn’t buying it and worried the pilot wouldn’t have an accurate weight load for the plane. So, when the pilot asked him what he weighed, he said 420 pounds.
“I feel like I saved six lives that day,” he said. “But I don’t need a live-saving award now – I feel so honored.”
Hermiston High School students Kyle Ketchersid and Gabrielle Aceves-Galindo received the Altrusan Outstanding Young Citizens Award Wednesday night. Aceves-Galindo volunteers at assisted living facilities, mows lawns for seniors as well as works with foster care children and special needs kids. She is also heavily involved in music including opera and teaching piano to kids. Ketchersid is also a musician and is lead bassoonist for the Inland Northwest Musicians and assistant drum major for the HHS marching band and is currently working on his Eagle Scout Award.
Earlier this year, the Hermiston School District honored its Educators and Administrator of the Year. Each recipient was recognized Wednesday night at the banquet. Kent Barnes was named overall Educator of the Year and Larry Usher was named Administrator of the Year. CLICK HERE for more information on the winners.
