Work together Grow together: Jacksonville Chamber names Sam Hopkins 2018’sCitizen of the Year

Longtime Jacksonville resident and all-around good guy Sam Hopkins was named Jacksonville’s 2018 Citizen of the Year, during the 94th annual Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Hopkins was doubly surprised as his family was able to be present for his award, which was presented by Jacksonville Mayor Dick Stone during the event held Friday, Jan. 25 at the Norman Activity Center.

“I was completely surprised by this honor and thought my family had come to town to attend the funeral of a family relative, they snuck into the annual banquet and I did not know that they were there until I got the award,” Hopkins said after the banquet.

“Because of this presentation,” Hopkins joked, “now I will have to be nice to everybody for the next year; no more being a grumpy old man. Oh, brother, this is going to be a heavy responsibility. I can hardly wait for my replacement. But I do like getting this designation.”

Hopkins’ daughter Christine Hopkins Kjosa said via so-cial media, “No one has been more dedicated to this city than my dad. We are so proud of you!”

Hopkins is active in the Jacksonville Tennis Association and writes the Spud Nut and Tater Tot movie reviews featured in the Cherokeean Herald newspaper most weeks.

2019 Chairman of the Board is Tom Trimble. Chair Elect of the Board is Patty Rivers. Treasurer is Andy Calcote. Past Chair of the Board is Britian McKinney. Community Development Division chair is Judy Batton. Economic Development Division chair is Nathan Jones. Education Development Division chair is Pam Anderson. Member-ship Development Division chair is Merry Caroline Cur-ry. Tourism Development Division chair is Britain McKinney.

Chamber staff include President Peggy Renfro, Project Coordinator Kim Smith, Information Coordinator Jessica Payne and Marketing Director Tammy Hawkes.

The banquet was sponsored by Bannister Plumbing; the city of Jacksonville. Cornerstone Baptist Church; UT Health East Texas; Homeplace Inn & Suites; Heritage Land Bank; Dairy Queen; Cherokee Real Estate Compa-ny Inc.; Gourmet Gardens; Harry’s Building Materials; Wal-Mart; Sylvia Mae’s Soul Food; Austin Bank; Central Baptist Church; Christus Mother Frances Healthcare System-Jacksonville; Bill Day Tire; Cherokee County Pre-cinct 3 Commissioner Patrick Reagan; Century 21 real-tor; Family First Clinic & Urgent Care; Jacksonville Col-lege; Homes & Properties realtor; Super Gallo; Texas National Bank; and Cherokee Ranch Golf Club.