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Chamber names its man, woman of the year
One runs a construction firm. The other serves as a regional banking manager. Together, they invested countless hours over the past year to make a positive difference in this community.
During a formal ceremony Saturday evening, the community returned the favor by honoring them as the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce's man and woman of the year.
Ray Liercke and Mary Morin join a select list of individuals tapped for the chamber's annual honor in a tradition that started in 1993.
In addition, the chamber presented its lifetime achievement award to Charlene Humpherys, who operates the Cedar Crest assisted living center in Mountain Home.
"This is one of my favorite evenings of the year," said Mayor Tom Rist in opening remarks to the more than 200 business and community leaders and military officials that gathered at the Elk's Lodge during the yearly celebration.
"It's been an interesting year. I wouldn't change a thing," added Chamber President Lisa Harvel.
Despite the economic turmoil that affected the Mountain Home community over the past two years, the mayor remains optimistic that the town will see great things happen in the months ahead.
"The economy may look horrible now, but we're looking for things to change," Rist said. That positive outlook is based, in part, on plans to add another foreign military training unit at the nearby Air Force. If approved, it would likely add hundreds of jobs to the Mountain Home area.
"(In addition), there are things happening in Mountain Home that will change the complexion of the city's downtown area," Rist said.
Col. Ron Buckley, commander of the 366th Fighter Wing, offered his personal thanks on behalf of the nearly 5,000 military personnel stationed at the nearby Air Force base.
Mountain Home remains a "great community" that repeatedly goes out of its way to support the airmen and military families stationed here, the colonel said.
This level of support "makes them feel grateful to serve their nation," Buckley added.
"As military members, we move a lot, and it's hard to feel that we're home. However, Mountain Home always makes us feel welcome."
Following dinner, the evening's agenda changed direction to focus on recognizing the chamber's man and woman of the year. As in year's past, the names of each winner remained under wraps until the formal presentation.
In her comments leading up to the woman of the year announcement, Stephanie Bergh called Morin a "quiet, constant supporter of the Mountain Home community."
Bergh, who earned the woman of the year title for 2009, credited Morin's "instrumental" role in the community.
Each year, for example, she provides a beacon of hope for the children of financially strapped families in the Mountain Home area through her involvement in the local Shop With A Cop program.
Morin agreed to take on a "struggling program" and turn it into an initiative that allowed 120 children in this community buy presents for themselves and their families in time for Christmas, Bergh said.
For the past two years, she also headed up efforts to provide needed school supplies for the Migrant Head Start program in Mountain Home then rallied support to refill the shelves at local area food banks. Morin then devoted additional time to support community events like the annual Daniel Dopps Memorial Rodeo.
"To find a place that we love and adore and become part of that community is simply wonderful," said Morin, who moved to Mountain Home with her family in 1985. "Our community is a very giving community, and there are a lot of wonderful people that live here. It's humbling to be a part of that."
She paused to thank her company for giving her the ability "to make a difference" for others in this community.
"They gave me the opportunity to do all the things that I've been able to do for this community," Morin said.
Fred Foster, who earned last year's man of the year title, recognized Liercke as a person "that's ready to join in and help no matter the challenge." Moving to Mountain Home in 1996, Liercke brought his construction company from Seattle to "build many great things in this community," Foster said.
Liercke used his involvement in the Mountain Home Military Affairs Committee, including his time as its chairman, to promote the base's growing importance to train U.S. and foreign military forces, Foster added.
He also emphasized the community's reputation and importance in supporting future military missions during face-to-face meetings with senior Air Force leaders at the Pentagon as well as officials with the base's higher headquarters in Virginia.
In addition to running his construction business, Liercke serves as president of the El Korah Tin Lizzies group, vice president of the local Shriners and is a junior warden with the local Masonic Lodge.
Liercke admits he remains heavily involved in "quite a lot" of community events but manages to find ways to fit everything into his schedule.
"There are many people that do a lot in and for this community," and awards like this seek to recognize the caliber of these individuals to make Mountain Home a better place to live, he said. Being selected as the man or woman of the year recognizes just how much hard work goes into improving this community.
"The harder you work, the better this community gets," Liercke added.
This same level of hard work, combined with an around-the-clock commitment to caring for those in need, prompted the chamber to select Humpherys for its lifetime achievement award. She became the ninth person to earn the honor from the chamber.
"She's the hardest working woman I've ever known. She has a heart of gold," said Dr. John Bideganeta, himself a recipient of this lifetime award. "She doesn't refuse anybody, regardless of their financial situation."
Humpherys dedicated her life to helping her residents when she opened the care center here roughly 30 years ago, Bideganeta said.
"Her life is devoted to providing a home to others. At times she's a guardian to those who have no family," he added. This 24/7 commitment often comes with little to no thanks from the people she helps every day.
"I believe we're placed on Earth with a mission," Humpherys said as she accepted her award. "Once my boys grew up, I asked myself what to do with my life."
One day, the idea of opening an assisted living facility came to her mind and became "a second chance to make a difference," she said.
As part of the evening's festivities, Magistrate Judge George Hicks swore in the chamber's incoming board of directors. Lisa Harvel resumed her role as chamber president while Robby Robinson was named its new vice president. In addition, the chamber recognized the leaders of its six committees, which oversee travel and tourism, community events and more.
The mayor pledged the city's "full support" for the newly elected board of directors.