Chamber of Commerce 67th Annual Awards Banquet

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The Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 67th Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet on Thursday, Jan. 27 at Swainsboro Golf and Country Club to honor those who have helped to make Swainsboro a wonderful place to live and to present the new and exciting changes within our great community. The event began with an invocation by Chamber President Ken Warnock and a catered buffet style dinner with two scrumptious dessert choices, as well as the option of fresh fruit. Board member Zach Frye led dinner with a prayer. Following the meal, Chamber President Ken Warnock gave a few special remarks and paid recognition to the night's noteworthy guests; Chick-Fil-A Vidalia leadership team. He then gave the exciting news that our community would be receiving its own little slice of heaven right here in our hometown. Chick-Fil-A will be in the form of a food truck and located behind Leanna’s, in the Old Schwabe Motors parking lot, with hopes of something more permanent for our vastly growing city at a later time. Following dinner and the recognition of the Chambers special guests, all Board Members were introduced and acknowledged with applause. The Chamber President then gave recognition to Swainsboro High Schools STAR student Savannah Reynolds and her choice for STAR teacher, Cindy Riner and Emanuel County Institutes STAR student Landon Goodman and his choice for STAR teacher, Kendall Hadden. Unfortunately, due to a BETA convention that was being held out of town neither parties were able to be in attendance for the night but were honored through an incredible speech given by Ken Warnock where he commended their stupendous achievements and read personal letters written by the STAR students who tributed their teachers for their amazing successes and letters from their teachers, who tributed their students for their love of teaching. Zach Frye then introduced The Business of The Year Award to America Knits and part owner, Steve Hawkins who then shared some very appreciative words regarding our community following the award presentation. “We are very proud of what we’ve been able to do in Swainsboro but we wouldn't have been able to do it without the Emanuel County Development Authority, more particularly Ken. I had actually googled Swainsboro and I found two names; Charles Schwabe and Ken Warnock and I met them on a Saturday morning with my partner David Talton. I knew they were alright because Ken came straight to the plant with deer hunting clothes on. So I said these boys are alright. I like these guys better than the guys in Ft. Lauderdale, they’re my kind of people. They helped us with everything we needed. We had some job fairs where 154 people applied. Of course that was before Covid and there were a lot more people looking for jobs at that time but we’ve been very blessed with many great employee’s. I think the tables set for this year now that we have landed a contract with J. Crew, being the iconic brand that it is. Our intent has been to establish a reputation in the apparel industry that spans Nationwide, and once we have that reputation we hope to launch America Knits as a stand-alone brand. Because although all these other major brands are telling this down home American story, we’re the ones who are actually living it and doing it. The brands are marketing companies. So we’re actually making the shirts for them and making them to their specs but our goal would be to transition to where America Knits and Swainsboro are both household words and well-known names. In fact, we designed our label to say; Made in Swainsboro Georgia, instead of Made in The USA. I think that’s important because if you’re going to tell a story you have to be able to authenticate it.” Before the night ended and closing remarks were mentioned, Honorable Judge Bobby Reeves read a heartfelt and remarkable tribute to Charles Schwabe before presenting him with The Lifetime Achievement Award. Recognizing all of his many achievements throughout his life and the incredible differences he’s made within our community. These were Judge Reeves' kind words; “Swainsboro has been blessed with outstanding leaders, citizens willing to give of their time and talent to make Swainsboro and Emanuel County a better community. Tonight we will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to a man who has continued that long line of leadership. Perhaps his most important contribution was, because of his love for Swainsboro, and his desire to serve and make it a better place for all of us, he came home after college and poured himself into making Swainsboro a vibrant and active city.

And, over the years he has literally been the heart and soul and the face of our city. When people around the state think of Swainsboro, this man comes to their minds because he has been such a marvelous ambassador for our city.

1. He is a lifelong member of Swainsboro First United Methodist Church where he has served on the Church Council as well as in various other areas. (He makes a very good usher and does a fine

job of taking up the collection.)

2. He was an active member of the Swainsboro Jaycees, serving as President in the early 80s. He received the Lee Price Award, given to the Jaycee of the Year and was inducted into the Georgia Jaycee Rebel Corps.

3. Southeast Georgia Jaycee Fair Board for many years. Not supposed to talk much about what all went on at the fair!! 4. He was very active in the Miss Emanuel County and Miss Southeast Georgia pageants, both as a board member and, set designer, set builder and stage manager. And I’m not talking about just showing up on Saturday night to manage the back stage activities. He designed and built many of our most elaborate sets, working tirelessly and until the last minute to make sure everything was just right. For instance, when the Mississippi River paddle boat was thought to be complete, he decided it needed smoke coming out of the stack, a working paddle wheel, and a gang plank

the contestants could walk down from the boat deck. And on Saturday afternoon he made it happen.

More than once we went on stage with wet paint on the set because after everybody went home after the Friday night rehearsal, our recipient would notice something that didn’t look just right, and he would come back on Saturday and redo it and paint it again.

He used his enormous writing talents to write the custom lyrics to “As Time Goes By” for the Casablanca Year, and to “Thanks for The Memories” for one of the Anniversary Years.

5. Swainsboro Rotary Club

He has been a faithful member for many years and is a Past President and a Paul Harris Fellow, which is a distinct recognition from Rotary International and carries with it a substantial contribution to the world wide work of Rotary International.

6. East Georgia State College Foundation

Here he provides wise counsel and advice on difficult decisions

and regularly brings clarity and unity when differing opinions start to cause dissension.

7. He served on the Swainsboro Emanuel County Joint Development Authority for over 26 years. For many years switched Chairmanship back and forth with Jerry Ashcroft during some of our most successful years. During one five year period of his leadership the Authority brought in 1000 new jobs, including bringing Nordson to Swainsboro. During that time every available building was occupied.

He was an “all in” member, and was fully involved with every activity of the Authority.

He helped create the Technology Park.

His greatest contribution came from his ability to create an atmosphere that increased the cooperation between the city and county in support of the JDA, gaining full cooperation and participation from both.

8. In 2005 he was elected Mayor of the City of Swainsboro, and has now completed his fourth term, serving for 16 years. While Mayor his contributions are significant and many.

During his tenure Swainsboro has built a new police station and a new fire station.

Along with others he has helped improve our airport, building a new terminal and additional hanger space.

The city’s waste water treatment facilities have been modernized and improved.

Over 100 streets have been paved, and our downtown sidewalks and crosswalks have been upgraded. We enjoy new and modern downtown street lighting, making our downtown inviting and welcoming both night and day.

He led the effort to re-invigorate the Downtown Development Authority, which I think you can see just from looking around our downtown area has been hugely successful.

His leadership is also fully behind the project to restore our theater. I am told by the committee members that without his help and leadership they could not begin to imagine the progress that is being made on that important project.

Often unnoticed, he traveled many miles and spent countless hours and days attending meetings and serving on state and regional committees, building relationships with legislators, business and city leaders in order to help our community grow and prosper. He continually searched for and applied for federal and state grants to help boost our economy and help to improve Swainsboro.

10. Personal Information

He was born here in Swainsboro in 1950, and graduated from Swainsboro High School in 1968. His mother was a revered and respected teacher, and his father was a successful coach before becoming part owner of a successful car dealership. He attended the University of Georgia and obtained a degree from the Grady School of Journalism.

He is married to the former Jean Davis of Vidalia, and they have two sons, Clark and Phillip, and a beautiful daughter in law, Devin. For many years he worked in the family business, Payne Schwabe Buick Pontiac GMC.

When the business closed he worked for Buckley and Associates for a few years, but cars was too strong in his blood and he opened Schwabe Motors, which he operated for many years. He still has a love for old cars, and loves the family farm where he keeps his collections of Emanuel County memorabilia. I suspect now he is fully retired Jean will be sending him to the farm more often!!

11. He was the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year award in 2006. He has also received the coveted Green Jacket for his dedication to the Pine Tree Festival, and his leadership to the PTF and Southeast Timber Expo Foundation helping the festival take on a new look. His leadership through the city and his personal commitment have caused the festival to soar to new heights. He has also focused on

the timber expo aspect of the foundation, and is working still to expand that aspect of the foundation.

So, in a lifetime of achievement Charles Schwabe has honored and respected our past while at the same time pushing us and our city forward into a bright future.

He has served with a "quiet" and selfless nature. There have been countless times when Charles has reached out to help those in need, not because he wanted praise or recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. Whether the need was financial or moral support and encouragement or just connecting individuals to needed resources, he gladly provided expecting absolutely nothing in return. There have been numerous occasions when a funeral was scheduled to take place at the City Cemetery, but the grass had not been cut. What would Charles do? Load his lawnmower and get the grass cut before the service began. It is that intrinsic nature of a greater good that burns brightly within Charles....many folks may not know that about him. He has a huge and compassionate heart for others.

Now, he has retired from leading our city as mayor, but I am confident he will still be an active and important leader in our community. After all, old habits are hard to break.

So tonight, we honor Charles Schwabe and present him the Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award, thanking him for all he has done for us and our community! He epitomizes a couple of phrases many of you will recognize: “Earth’s greatest treasure lies in human personality, and service to humanity is the best work of life”. It was a night to remember, surrounded by many of our outstanding citizens who strive to make our community better each day. If you would like to make a difference within our community, contact the Chamber of Commerce today and join us in making Swainsboro a wonderful place to call home.