The Opp and Covington County Area Chamber of Commerce presented seven people and a local company with honors at the Annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Wednesday, June 13.

The event was held on the First Baptist Church of Opp’s Fellowship Center and was catered by Wheelhouse.

“On behalf of Opp and Covington County Area Chamber of Commerce I’d like to warmly welcome guests to our Hall of Fame Dinner. We thank you for coming to this event and are incredibly happy to be able to participate in this event. It’s our 44th anniversary and our board is comprised of individuals who have had a an impact on Opp, Alabama,” stated Opp Chamber Chairman Jay Mikel.

Opp Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees

Dr. Charles Monroe Burgess Jr. and Joseph Randolph “Randy” Griffin were admitted into their respective cities’ Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame recipients were first presented from 1978 onwards to 9 people and were awarded each year except for 2020 because of the epidemic.

Dr. Burgess is a lifelong resident of Opp and graduated in 1969 from Opp High School where the salutatorian was in his class. His passion for Opp has brought him back home when he completed his dental education in 1977, when he assumed the dental practice of his father. practice. He volunteered for the community with dental services for the next 40 years before resigning in 2017 and transferring the third generation of business to his son who is the Dr. Walter H. Burgess. In his time as a dentist, Dr. Burgess provided dental service to the Opp Headstart Program and served as a trustee on the board for the Alabama Dental Association. His wife Renee are participants in Opp’s First Baptist Church where he was a deacon as well as taught Sunday school for the past 44 years.

“The first person I’d like to acknowledge to is my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. I am blessed to be here and would like to thank all of the winners of the awards. I am so proud of you. God bless you and good luck Bobcats,” Burgess said.

Griffin started his journey in sports in the form of an Opp Bobcat and he earned 12 letters to the varsity in his time as an OHS athlete. He earned four letters for baseball and one in track and basketball, and two football letters as a quarterback. He was named as a member of be on the South Alabama Conference All-Star Team for football in 1962, and basketball later in 1963. Following graduation, he enrolled at Troy University and went into coaching. The first time he was head coach was from Elba at the end of 1972. He returned to home and was a coach in the football team at Opp from 1973 until 1981, and ended with a record of 64-27. After his retirement from coaching He continued to teach at the school he attended until the year 1996.

He was the first to organize with the Bobcat Booster Banquet over 30 years ago, and also the Bobcat Booster Golf Tournament, which raised over $300,000. This money will go to The Opp Booster Club between the two. A scholarship is granted each year to one Opp High School multi-sport athlete every year who is active in the local community and exhibits the highest level of character both in and out of the field. Coach Griffin was admitted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. In addition, the football field located at Channell-Lee Stadium is now named in his honor. Every year, he solicits patrons for his Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo. His wife is his bride, Jackie.

“To be admitted into the Hall of Fame is an honour. This is the most prestigious achievement a person could be able to. Your home town is the one that you love. I am a huge fan of this community and am willing to do everything in my power to protect it. I want you all to know that it’s an Bobcat town and to cheer on the Bobcats,” Griffin said.

Dr. Jason Cain Memorial Award

Dr. Jason Cain was the Director of Student Services at LBW’s MacArthur campus. He was also a director and former President of the Opp and Covington County Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Cain died on April 18 2020. The Chamber created this award to honor Cain and honor the person who makes an impact in the lives of a lot of. The recipient for 2023 will be Lori McLeod.

McLeod is a wife of a farmer she is a mother of two sons, and a registered nurse and an aspiring participant in an Associate Degree Nursing program at LBWCC. McLeod grew up in Opp and was a victim of addiction to drugs during her teenage years. She has been working as a full-time employee in Andalusia Manor since 2018 and is currently working towards a registered nursing degree.

“I was extremely humbled to be nominated for this award. I consider it an immense honour to be chosen. Thank you very many times,” McLeod said.

Trail Master of the Year Award

Danny as well as Brenda Bass were selected as the 2023 Trail Master of the Year by their friends from the Lake Frank Jackson Trail Masters due to their dedication and commitment to their organization as well as Frank Jackson State Park. Their journey began with Trail Masters in 2005 and have been active in a variety of Trail Masters’ initiatives over the time. Danny is currently the treasurer.

Danny as well as Brenda Bess were married in 1968. They are grandparents of three kids: Becky, Randall, and John. Danny started his career in 1968 an employee at First National Bank of Opp and stayed for the following 38 years in the job until he retired in the year 2005. Brenda was a stay at home mother as well as a church secretary for a number of years. They have four grandkids and one great-granddaughter. Danny as well as Brenda are both members of the Southside Baptist Church in Opp in which both been teaching Sunday School for several years. He is a deacon and she is active in various activities.

“Danny Brenda and Brenda have to be two of the best people you’ll ever meet. You will always receive a great reception. They are awed by using their minds, hands and hearts, and they always are looking forward to doing wonderful things for their communities,” Trail Masters President William Schofield stated.

Opportunity Award Spirit of Opportunity Award

This award is given to a group, individual or organisation “applauding the community’s involvement as well as an an optimistic attitude towards this City of Opportunity.” This individual, group or company is active in the local community through volunteer service, displays a genuine appreciation and love towards the city of Opp and extols the city’s virtues. It has been given each year since 2008 with the exception of 2020. The recipient in 2023 was Pam Potter.

Potter is a native of Opp. She was was raised at Opp and has been calling Opp home for the entirety of her life. She completed her studies at Opp High School and finished with the top student in class at the LBW’s Emergency Medical Program. She earned the EMT license in the year 2019, and is employed part-time by an Opp-based EM service, in along with her full-time work as Director for Opp Adult Activity Center. Opp Adult Activity Center. Potter is also coordinator of events for events like the Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo Opp Fest, and July 4th celebrations. She also manages city of Opp’s facebook page. She graduated in 2021 from the Covington County Leadership Program.

Her parents are John as well as Joyce Granger with one sister, Kelly Mitchell, and brother-in-law Johnny Mitchell. The mother is Opp Chamber Executive Administrator Joni Lolley Ishmael (Sebastian Ishmael) and Clay Lolley (Cary Morris). Surrogate son Joseph Taylor is married to Laura Hutto Taylor, and her children include Ava, Draven, Everest and Jackson.

“I’d like to express my congratulations to the winners. It’s a bit outside my familiar territory but I’ve seen lots of familiar faces. My family would always tell me that I enjoyed being at the forefront of everyone’s attention and it feels good. My father taught me and my sister to stand straight, with shoulders back, head upwards and don’t look down at your feet while walking, and to walk with a goal. Our mom taught us how to respect each other. They both taught our children that Golden Rule to treat others the way you would like to be treated. I didn’t think I’d be a recipient of this honor, but those rules that were taught to me got me to where I am today. It’s a great honor, and I’ll try my best in living up to the award’s title,” Potter said.

Award for Business of the Year Award

The award is given to a company that, through its activities has rendered services for the local community. It has also made an impact on the economy of the city of Opp and is active in the Chamber. The award was first presented in 2012 and the 2023 winner was named Southern Style.

Southern Style opened its doors to the public on the 1st of Opp the year 2009, at 514 North Main Street. Savanna Jackson Bruce started the shop, which sells items for everyone, with a an emphasis on personalization. In 2012 she and her company partner Julie Moody, relocated the store to the old Dean’s Pharmacy building at 101 South Main Street. The shop provides baby-related gifts wedding gifts, bridal showers, and an enjoyable bricks and mortar environment for locals and visitors to the city. Southern Style provides free delivery to local schools, dance recitals and pageants.

“Even prior to 2009 I was aspired of establishing a gift shop that would provide any kind of personalization. The idea was born to provide the people of Opp and the surrounding areas the chance to shop locally for all their personalization and shopping requirements. While it’s been difficult to compete with big stores and online businesses Our customers have been extremely happy since that we have began our journey. We appreciate all those who have been supportive of our ideas and efforts and are thankful to our numerous Southern Style staff members. We are proud to be an integral part of the city’s Main Street and are honored to be chosen as the 2023 Business of Year,” Bruce said.

The Opp’s Personal Award

Since 1994, the award has been awarded to a person who has long-standing ties to Opp as well as made Opp proud with the accomplishments of their team. The person who is honored every year is the key presenter at Opp’s Chamber’s annual dinner. The recipient for 2023 will be Southeast Gas President and CEO Greg Henderson.

Henderson is a 1979 graduate of Opp High School, an alumnus of LBWCC, and a 1983 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting. He is certified as a public accountant and licensed in Alabama. Prior to joining Southeast Gas in 1998, he was employed by PowerSouth for 12 years and PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP in Birmingham for three years.

His parents are Jake as well as Peggy Henderson of the Cedar Grove community. He is got married with Doty Henderson. They have two children: Anna as well as Daniel. Both he and his wife belong to Bethany Baptist Church, where the pastor teaches adult classes.

“I would like to say thank you to all those who have played a role in my being here. It’s a great honor to be awarded this award. It was simple to plan, however it’s also extremely difficult as I’m unable to include all of the people who have been a part of my life in the time allotted. One thing I like about Opp that hasn’t changed is that it’s about helping others and helping them. That’s a theme I’ve been following for many years which was later taught to me.” Henderson said.

The banquet’s sponsors included LBW Community College, SIB The JReed Agency, AllIn Credit Union, Covington Electric Cooperative, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, CCB Community Bank, Covington Eye Care the Mayor Becky Bracke, and Southeast Gas.

It is located at the Opp and Covington County Area Chamber of Commerce is situated in the Opp Depot located at 200 South Main Street in Opp. For more information e-mail oppchamber1@gmail.com or call 334-493-3070.

The article Gallery: Opp inducts Burgess, Griffin into the Hall of Fame at annual dinner was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.