By JOANN LIVINGSTON
Daily Light Managing Editor

The Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce honored Mark Singleton as the community's Outstanding Citizen of the Year during the organization's 82nd annual banquet Thursday evening.

The presentation capped an evening of awards and honors at the Waxahachie Civic Center, where the ballroom was arrayed in an Academy Awards theme for the more than 300 guests in attendance.

Prior to Singleton's being named Outstanding Citizen of the Year, previous recipients were recognized, including his grandfather, Marvin E. Singleton, who was honored in 1976, and his father, George Singleton, who was honored in 1993.

A third-generation banker who has followed in his father and grandfather's footsteps, Singleton also is now a third-generation recipient of the chamber's highest honor.

In accepting the award, he expressed his surprise, saying he was caught off-guard and at a loss for words.

"This is something I love to do,” he said of his service and contributions to the community. "I'm a product of Waxahachie - I've been here my entire life. There's talk about being raised by a community and I feel I'm a product of that.

"Thank y'all very much,” he said.

Last year's recipients, Edwin and Carol Farrar, made the representation, with Edwin Farrar saying, "The name of this year's Outstanding Citizen Award recipient is a very respected one in Waxahachie and Ellis County. This young individual, as you will see, has already assembled a very impressive resume.”

Farrar listed numerous business achievements and civic involvements for Mark Singleton, including his having served as president and CEO of the family's bank, Citizens National Bank of Texas, since 2002.

Singleton has led a number of economic development initiatives in the community, including serving as chair of the Committee for Waxahachie 4B, which led to the construction of the civic center and the sports complex; serving on the Renovation of the Historic Courthouse Commission; organizing a 75-person community group to develop a comprehensive downtown master plan for Waxahachie; serving as founder and board member of Waxahachie Partnership; creating a tax increment finance zone; serving as marketing chair for the Waxahachie ISD's successful 2006 bond; serving on the county's Jail Expansion and Courts Building Commission; and serving on the Independent Community Bankers Association.

Singleton's previous honors include being voted the Most Influential Person in Ellis County in 2009 and receiving the chamber's Outstanding Leadership Award in 1995.

His community involvement includes service on the boards of the Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Club, Waxahachie Foundation, Waxahachie Senior Center, YMCA and chamber, among other activities.

Business of the Year

In a separate presentation, Citizens National Bank was honored as Business of the Year, with chamber CEO and president Debra Wakeland presenting the award to father and son, George Singleton and Mark Singleton.

In highlighting why CNB was selected for the award, Wakeland noted not only its founding in 1868 but a history of banking support to the community through the years that has lent itself to the construction of "10s of 1000s” of homes.

The bank's civic support to the community has extended to its having funded 548 scholarships to youth while donating more than $3 million to schools and nonprofit organizations since 2000. As well, the bank's staff and employees donate more than 15,000 volunteer hours on an annual basis, she said.

The evening's other honorees and special recognitions included:

Chair's Special Award - presented by Keith Wolverton (outgoing chairman) to Bonney Ramsey

Industry of the Year Award - presented by Michael Scott to Ellis County

Small Business of the Year Award - presented by Michael Scott to Tim Eaton of the Texas Theater

Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award - presented by Leslie Majors to the Gingerbread House, Ellis County Children's Advocacy Center

Marvin E. Singleton Jr. Environmental Beautification Award - presented by Mark Singleton to the Nay Company

Leadership Waxahachie Award - presented by Jim Chapman to Jay Fox

Mabel Frame Award - presented by Hilda Chapman to Judy Gilby

Ambassador's Award - presented by Brian Ford to Fercina Fudge

Incoming chairman Joe Gallo called on those who are not chamber members to join and for those who are members to support each other.

"Basically, I have two simple points that I want to make. The first is if you love this city, then you should support the chamber. The second is, we, as chamber members, should support our fellow chamber members,” he said. "I am often asked, 'Why should I join the chamber?' I always reply by asking, "Do you love Waxahachie?"

"Because, to me, it's that simple,” he said. "If you love Waxahachie, then you should be a member of the chamber.”

Gallo spoke of the chamber's services that are available to members and also the services the chamber provides to the community at large, such as its sponsorship of such activities as the Fourth of July parade, Bethlehem Revisited and Bob Phillips Festival.

"Someone has to organize them, someone has to volunteer to help run them (and) someone has to pay for it all,” he said. "The success of these events year after year is the result of the tireless efforts of the entire chamber staff and hundreds of amazing civic-minded citizens who volunteer their time and resources to help put them on.

"Imagine what Waxahachie would be like without these events. It would start to feel like an average city - and we are not an average city,” he said.

The chamber board members and committee chairmen were recognized as were the chamber staff and banquet chairman Mary Alice Warrington. The event's sponsors included platinum level - Atmos Energy, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, Kevin Chester of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP, Oncor Electric Delivery, Southwest Securities FSB, TaMolly's Mexican Restaurant and Vintage Bank; silver ��" Bell Insurance, Citizens national Bank of Texas, IESI, Moral Courage Foundation, Prosperity Bank, Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Scarborough Renaissance Festival; bronze - Compton's Carpet Cleaning, Custom Caregivers, First State Bank of Rice, Waxahachie Banker Center and Joseph R. Gallo, Attorney; in-kind - Confetti's Tent and Event Rentals, KBEC, Living Magazine, the Ranch and the Waxahachie Daily Light; and event contributors - College Street Printing Company.

Contact JoAnn at joann@wninews.com or 469-517-1452.