Chamber announces Lifetime Achievement Awards

This annual affair is a tribute to the life and work of five Madera civic leaders. Selected by members of the chamber board of directors, this year’s recipients have left their marks on the community through public services in an assortment of arenas.

The class of 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award beneficiaries is made up of J. Gordon Kennedy, Bill Coate, Margaret Diebert, David Lee and the late Leon Emo.

Kennedy is a local grower, Madera Rotary Club member, past Rotary International district governor, Madera County Farm Bureau member, and former Madera County Supervisor.

Coate is a well-known local historian, schoolteacher, college professor, published author, former television news host and a reporter and columnist for The Madera Tribune.

Diebert and her family own the print shop Creative Copy, and she is on the Madera County Arts Council board and Madera Community Hospital board of directors.

Lee was manager of McMahan’s Furniture for 30 years, and now works as a Realtor. He is very active in the Breakfast Lions Club.

The memorial honoree, Leon Emo, worked as a journalist for The Madera Tribune. He also was a published author, City of Madera parks supervisor and Breakfast Lions Club member.

The awards will be presented at the chamber’s annual installation dinner, beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at Hatfield Hall at the Madera District Fairgrounds, 1850 West Cleveland Avenue.

During the dinner family, friends and colleagues will share anecdotes and make tributes to the honorees.

Tickets are $50 with tables of 10 available for $500. Sponsorship fee is $750 with a table of 10 included. Deadline for tickets is Aug. 9. For information, call the chamber at 673-3563.

A special tabloid section of The Madera Tribune featuring biographies, photos and congratulatory advertisings will be published on Aug. 15. Call the Tribune advertising department, 674-2424 for details.