Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award Reception Set for Oct. 22

The City of Arkansas City will host its annual Joe B. Avery community spirit award presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

The event will take place at the USD 470 Avery Learning Center, 2500 N. 15th St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the awards ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. The recipient of this year's award will be revealed during the ceremony.

Members of the community spirit award committee and the city commission will participate in the presentation, followed by a social reception. Schmidt Jewelers is providing the engraving for this year’s award.

About the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award

The award, established in honor of Joe B. Avery, a former member of the Arkansas City Human Relations Commission who passed away in 2008, recognizes community members who embody the values of community spirit and diversity. Avery himself was the first recipient of the award, which continues to celebrate individuals who enhance the lives of others through service and a dedication to cooperation and humanitarianism.

The 2024 community spirit award committee members are:

• Tammy Lanman-Henderson, chair
• Kim Hager, vice-chair
• Joanne Bierle, member
• Eric Burr, member
• Joni Spiser, member
• Tiffany Parsons, secretary

Past recipients include:

• 2009: Joe B. Avery and Bruce Watson
• 2010: Dr. Nick Rogers
• 2011: Pastor James Watson Jr.
• 2012: James Fry
• 2013: Curtis Freeland
• 2014: Delphia Jennings
• 2015: Kerry Schnackenberg
• 2016: Jim and Carol Owens
• 2017: Carlla Pike, Kalin Taylor, and Rob Carroll’s Sandblasting & Painting
• 2018: Christopher and Mitchell Gingher
• 2019: Jill Hunter
• 2020: Mike Evinger
• 2021: Anita Judd-Jenkins and Foss Farrar
• 2022: Rags Smith
• 2023: Robin Henderson

To nominate an individual for the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award, contact Tiffany Parsons, City Clerk, (620) 441-4412 or tparsons@arkansascityks.gov.