Greenbrier chamber names award winners

Pastor Freddie Mark Wilcox will be recognized as the Citizen of the Year at the 2016 Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Friday, March 4, at the Greenbrier Junior High Cafetorium.

Tim Tyler will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award and Jesse Buchanan has been named Student of the Year.

Winners of the chamber’s business awards will be announced at the banquet.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event will include a silent auction.

Tickets are $40 per person and may be purchased by contacting the Chamber at 501.679.4009.

According to the nominations:

Freddie Mark Wilcox – A lifelong member of the Greenbrier community, Wilcox has been described as the "Welcome Wagon from the Cadron Flats to Lieblong Hill” and is a strong supporter of the overall well-being of Greenbrier and its people.

He is considered a visionary, a planner and a contributor — no task is too large or too small.  

Wilcox is committed to improving the quality of life for others. His role as pastor to Lifesong Baptist Church is just one of the numerous hats he wears.  

His family maintains strong Central Arkansas roots and involvement, whether its livestock production or painting signs to root on the Panthers. His care and compassion to the community is positive proof that Greenbrier is truly a place to call home.

Tim Tyler – For more than 30 years, Tyler has been a committed member of the Greenbrier Volunteer Fire Department. He currently serves as an officer within the organization, recruiting and training firefighters.  

He also serves as commander of the Faulkner County Emergency Squad.  

Tyler’s extensive knowledge of soils and waste water treatment triggered his passion to supply clean water to villages in developing countries. He volunteers his time with Water for Christ, a non-profit ministry that travels to Ghana twice yearly to drill wells, maintain existing wells and share the gospel.

Jesse Buchanan – Currently ranked first in his class at Greenbrier High School, Buchanan has a GPA of 4.3 and an ACT composite of 33. He has taken eight AP courses and accumulated college hours.

He is not only at the top of his class academically, he is also very involved outside the classroom. He has been in GHS football, book club, talent show host, church youth group, Beta Club, Student Council and Mathletes, serving in many officer and leadership roles.  

Buchanan’s humor and outgoing personality make him someone everyone wants to be around. He always treats others with dignity and respect, no matter their "social status." He has numerous hours of community service by volunteering with GHS, VBS, Habitat for Humanity, Tornado Disaster Relief, Bethlehem House and nursing homes.