Buzz Wood – 60 years of volunteer service. (page 8) Volume 29 Number 2 www.fsbgc.org Spring 2015 BIELEMA HONORS FSBGC VOLUNTEERS DURING ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET B r e t B i e l e m a , h e a d f o o t b a l l c o a c h o f t h e A r k a n s a s R a z o r b a c k s , was guest speaker for the annual Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club awards banquet held at the Evans gym. Around 300 guests attended the celebration. KFSM TV-5 news anchor Daren Bobb served as emcee. During the program, Bielema shared stories about his childhood and joked about being raised in a small farm town that had more pigs than people. He praised his parents for providing a fi rm foundation in his home. “Unfortunately, many young men and women do not have the same level of support and that is why Boys & Girls Clubs are so important” he added. Sponsored by the FSBGC Alumni & Friends Association, the annual event drew FSBGC supporters, community leaders, volunteers and members. Bielema, who coached the Razorbacks Importance of Helping Kids – Bret Bielema talks to a 6-5 record during the past season, paid tribute to the about the positive impact volunteers have on the lives of young people during the annual Boys & Girls volunteers and members. “When I began recruiting young men Club Awards banquet on Marc h 18. across the country, the common thing I kept hearing was the Boys & Girls Club” he said. “I realize the impact that Clubs have on young people” Bielema added. Cox Community Concert FSBGC board member Sam T. Sicard was presented with the “Champion of Youth” award. Recognized for his leadership Supports FSBGC and advocacy for young people, Sicard was instrumental in With close to 10,000 in attendance at the Cox establishing the “Step Up Speak Out” program which addresses Community Concert held at the Fort Smith Riverfront child and sexual abuse. Park on April 2, concession proceeds from the event Carman Trucking received the “Sponsor of the Year” Award. were split between the Mercy Foundation and the The family owned business, which was established in 1985, has Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club. It is estimated that supported FSBGC programs and sports teams for the past 20 each organization will net $ 11,000 from the event. years. Family members Greg and Eric Carman were on hand for Country singer Joe Nichols, a native of Rogers, the presentation. Arkansas, was the featured performer. He’s had six Youth of the Year awards were presented to Madison number one singles and 14 top 40 hits. Barrett Baber Needham (Evans), Yuri Richardson (Stephens), Abby Whitson was the warm-up act. Baber was the 2014 recipient (Goldtrap) and Asia Huff (Jeffrey). Darren Runke of the Evans unit of the CBS Grammy Gig of a Lifetime. was recognized for being a Youth of the Year fi nalist. The awards “We were very happy with the large turnout for are based on community service, Club participation, academic the concert” said Kelly Zega, Cox Communications achievement, public speaking ability and interviews. senior manager of public affairs. “Cox is very pleased Volunteer of the Year awards went to Matt White (Evans), to partner with the Boys & Girls Club and Mercy Jennifer Hinkle Stuckey (Jeffrey), Rashad McGill (Stephens), and Foundation” she added. Cox Communications has Daniel Murphy (Goldtrap). More than 400 volunteers are involved provided a “free” concert for local citizen s for the at the Boys & Girls Club. past seven years. Page 2 www.fsbgc.org Spring 2015 In Memory of... Memorial contributions to the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club are invested in the Club Endowment fund. Interest from these donations generate operational support for the Club. The Endowment was established in 1940. Gifts received during the fi rst quarter of 2015 (January, February, March) were given in memory of the following... MS. KENDRA ABBEY MR. AARON "AUSTEN" HICE by Renee & Eric Carman by B.G. Hendrix MR. JAMES L. "JIM" COOPER MR. BRYAN BEDELL HIGHTOWER by Janie & Jim Wyatt by Iris Hightower MR. BILL COPHER, SR. MR. CHARLES HINES by Ann & Mont Echols by Renee & Eric Carman MR. ROBERT CORROTTO MR. JOE C. HUGHES by Jerry Kerwin by The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith by Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith MR. ROBERT INGRUM MR. TOM CUTTING, JR. by Renee & Eric Carman by The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith MR. JUAN MARTINEZ MR. JACK MCKINLEY DAILEY by The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith by Janie & Jim Wyatt MS. JANE DILLS MORGAN MS. MARY SUE CHRISTIE DAWSON by Elizabeth Gillespie by The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith by Mary Ellen & Brad Jesson by Patricia & Paul Thessing MR. BOB DOLAN by Renee & Eric Carman MR. NORMAN PARRISH, JR. by Joseph W. Barker MS. JANICE MARIE DOUGLAS by Janet & Mike Blaylock by Renee & Eric Carman by Glenda & Dan Duncan by Cyndi & Jerry Glidewell MR. ROBERT "ROBBY" FLOCKS by Anita & Terry Lovell by The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith by Moore Dental Care MS. ALICE M. FRETHEIM MS. PATIENCE SMETS by Janet & Marlin Fretheim by Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith by Cyndi & Jerry Glidewell by Anne & Mike Reeder MR. CRAIG M. SMITH by Natalie Taylor by Elizabeth & Joe Powers MR. JAMES GAESSLER MS. EDITH SMITH by Renee & Eric Carman by Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith MR. ROY GATES MS. CYNDI WEBB by Marcia & Charlie Dye by Renee & Eric Carman MR. BILL GRAMLICH MS. CATHERINE WEBSTER by Grant Gramlich by Cyndi & Jerry Glidewell MS. SHIRLEY M. HALL MR. TERRY WIEDEMAN by Hanna Oil & Gas Company by Renee & Eric Carman MS. MARGARET LOUISE HENDRICKS by The Family of Mr. & Mrs. Okla Ben Smith Spring 2015 www.fsbgc.org Page 3 Scholarships MR. BOBBY NEEDHAM, SR. by Doris R. Needham MEMORIALS: (for) LOIS & DAVID GEELS by Robyn & Bobby Needham, Jr. by Doris R. Needham (for) MR. OLLIE JAMES by Doris R. Needham (for) MS. ETHLYN WEABLE by Doris R. Needham HONORARIUMS: (for) MS. MADISON NEEDHAM by Doris R. Needham REID BARTLETT & GRANT ELLISON PLUNKETT by Diana & Robert Plunkett Foster Contest Awards – Marilyn Foster presents certifi cates and cash awards to winners of the Essay and Photography contests. Marilyn MR. ROBERT A. YOUNG IV Foster has sponsored the program for the past 18 years. She and her by Pamela & Marshall Yantis late husband Don were inducted into the FSBGC Hall of Fame in 2012. Honorariums ESSAY CONTEST RESULTS MR. MATT WHITE Theme: “What the Boys & Girls Club means to me” by Phil White Division 1 (ages 6 – 11) Memorials Named for 1st place – Cayton Riggs, age 10 (Evans) 2nd place – Hana Dingman, age 10 (Goldtrap) Sam M. Sicard & Greg Smith 3rd place – Jocelyn McDaniel, age 9 (Stephens) Honorable Mention – Whitney Monroe, age 8 (Goldtrap) Two major projects in Fort Smith will honor the Honorable Mention – Quinnlin Huff, age 10 (Goldtrap) memory of two former Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club board members, Sam M. Sicard and Greg Smith. Division 2 (ages 12 – 18) On March 29, a groundbreaking was held for the 1st place – Kim Rollinson, age 18, (Jeffrey) Greg Smith River Walk, which will include a 1.6 mi le 2nd place – LaTavia Rollinson, age 16 (Jeffrey) trail along the Arkansas River connecting Harry E. Kelley 3rd place – Jordyn Jackson, age 13 (Stephens) River Park to the Rice Carden Levee trail. The trail is Honorable Mention – Krislyn Edwards, age 13 (Jeffrey) named after Greg Smith, who died in 2012. Smith was a Honorable Mention – Alexis Goodman, age 17 (Jeffrey) strong supporter of the Boys & Girls Club and created the Parks Partners program for the City of Fort Smith. The $ 2 million Greg Smith River Walk trail is made PHOTOGRAPHY RESULTS possible by the City of Fort Smith and a matching grant Division 1 (ages 6 – 9) from the Walton Family Foundation. 1st place – Thomas Jordan, age 8 - “Hide-away” A “Hall of Honor” will be named for the late Sam M. 2nd place – Conner Kelley, age 9 - “Civil War” Sicard at the U.S. Marshals Museum. When completed, 3rd place – Timothy Jordan, age 9 – “Enter if you Dare” the museum will be an economic catalyst for the Fort Honorable Mention – Smith region and the riverfront area. Sicard, who passed Kassidy Hughes, age 8 – “Hanging Gallows” away in 2011, served on the Boys & Girls Club board of directors for 37 years and was board president in 1986- Division 2 (ages 10 – 12) 1987. Sicard served as co-chair of the $ 2.5 million Capital 1st place – Jackie Venegas, age 11 – “Poverty” campaign for the Evans Boys & Girls Club in 2003. His 2nd place – Lwvenchy Laboriel, age 10 – “Miles of Metal” Hall of Honor at the Marshal’s museum will be a tribute 3rd place – Kaydence Ramirez, age 10 – “Wonder Wheel” to those who are committed to serving others. Honorable Mention – J’Kyah Embry, age 11 – “Railin’ Out” Page 4 www.fsbgc.org Spring 2015 Needham Competes in State Youth of the Year Contest Madison Needham was named a state fi nalist for the Arkansas Youth of the Year contest held in Little Rock on February 19. Needham, a senior at Southside High with a 3.85 grade point average, received a $ 500 scholarship for being state Youth of the Year fi nalist. At Southside, Needham serves as chapter and district President of FCCLA, which stands for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. Through FCCLA, she’s organized meetings and activities for 80 surrounding schools. She’s a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the SAIL Club.