Published: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 / Updated: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 01:58 PM
York chamber honors Bill Brice with new award
Lifetime achievement award given to Marshall Whitesides
YORK --
The Greater York Chamber of Commerce honored the late attorney and former mayor Bill Brice Friday, presenting a lifetime achievement award in his name to longtime business owner Marshall Whitesides.
Brice, who died in December at the age of 84, served as York’s mayor for a dozen years — from 1956 until 1968. After that, he served the York City Council as its attorney for almost 40 more years. He practiced law for 60 years, working up until just days before his death.
York Mayor Eddie Lee, who announced the establishment of the William M. Brice Jr. Lifetime Achivement Award during the chamber’s annual banquet Friday night, called Brice a member of the “greatest generation.”
“He was a dignified Southern gentleman, who never forgot where he came from,” Lee said in announcing the award. “He worked well into his eighth decade serving the city of York and its people.”
Whitesides, the owner of Whitesides Cleaners in York, was born and raised in the Bethany community of York County and served in Germany during World War II, said outgoing chamber president Jimmy Sprouse in presenting the award.
Sprouse said Whitesides established the laundry businesse in downtown York after returning from the war, and it later expanded into the uniform business. He also said Whitesides is a former Duke of Summerfest and an ARP Church elder who has been involved in a Chester Disabled American Veterans group.
Also during the banquet, York Comprehensive High School head football coach Bobby Carroll was named Citizen of the Year for his dedication to the district football program for youth in grades seven to 12.
Rick Jiran of Duke Energy, who announced the award, said Carroll has made dedication to the program “a way of life . . . We can only guess how many kids would have gone down the wrong trail, but their lives were turned around.”
Jiran said Carroll has demonstrated “a passion for perfection which is unparalleled.”
He said Carroll was unable to attend the banquet because he was at a training event, so his son, York senior and quarterback Spencer Carroll, was there to accept it for him.
Spencer Carroll said his father views the community as an important part of the program. “He really drilled into our heads the idea of creating a football program, as opposed to a football team,” Spencer Carroll said.
Other award recipients are:
• Business Person of the Year: Paul Basha, president and CEO of York Electric Cooperative.
• Small Business of the Year: Mellon Insurance Solutions.
• Business of the Year: Agape Senior Assisted Living, which recently hosted a groundbreaking for an expansion that will include 31 apartments at 44 Ross Cannon Road in York.
• Volunteer of the Year: Gary and Paula Jo Gross, volunteers with the Yorkville Historical Society, who serve as docents during the annual tour, conduct research and pick up trash on city streets.
Robert Winkler of Edward Jones Investments in York was recognzied as new president of the chamber. Sprouse, with the York County Natural Gas Authority, was honored as the immediate past president.
The chamber also recognized two outgoing members of its board of directors. They are Kevin Smiley of Burkett Financial Services; and Strauss Moore Shiple of the Olde English District.
New chamber board members are Christopher O. Farris of Christopher O. Farris, CPA; Letonia Gladden of Agape Hospice; Chris Hoofnagle of Lowe’s of York; Kip Kohn of Sports Fans Ink; Joe Versen of Joe Versen Appraisals; Lee Youngblood of First Citizens Bank; Amy Faulkenberry of Piedmont Medical Center; and Steve Mellon of Mellon Insurance Solutions
Returning members of the chamber board are Dr. Jack Bagwell of York Technical College, first vice president; Wendy Catledge of York Electric Coop; Phil Dibrell of Peoples First Insurance; Daniel Harshaw of Charles S. Bradford, PA; Dillon Kimbrell of Comporium Communications; William Langford of the Bank of York, who is serving as treasurer; Dr. William Oliver of Oliver Eye Associates; Simon Ormerod of AJAX Rolled Ring & Machine; Superintendet Dr. Vernon Prosser of the York School District One; Grier Sandifer of the Bank of York; and Nikki Seamster of BI-LO Store No. 719
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