2018 WOMAN OF THE YEAR HONOREE
Amy Root
I was born in Columbia Missouri and moved to Kentucky when I was five. My parents are Denny Bales which is now in Heaven and my mother Alta Howard Bales. I was taught at a young age to work for what you wanted. My first job was at fifteen in a ladies boutique. I loved clothes and this was a way for me to have all the latest styles ! This job fueled my love for clothing and fashion. My first business was Ooh-La-La . It was located beside Salon Vogue. The store quickly grew into a successful business and I loved it. Due to some very traumatic events in my life I had to close my store . I found myself as a single mom barely being able to take care of my son. I knew in my heart someday I would open another business. The dream came to life in 2008 thanks to my wonderful husband John. I was blessed again and had a great business . I was lucky enough to get the news that I would soon be adopting a beautiful baby girl not long after the store opened . Khloe came to work with me and spent most of her younger years in the store . I loved dressing her up and seeing her in beautiful dresses . In the year 2012 as I was watching Khloe play it was laid upon my heart to start the Easter dress drive . I wanted all little girls to have a beautiful dress ! That first year I collected 100 dresses.. I was thrilled! I’m so happy to say the dress drive has grown every year and this year we had close to 700 dresses! I’m so proud to be part of community that helps me every year make sure the little girls of Laurel county have beautiful dresses for Easter. I am aware that not all of these little girls are taken to church on Easter Sunday. I do feel in my heart that someday they will remember the dresses and find out what Easter is about on their own. The letters and pictures I receive from these girls are what keeps me going this every year . The stories the teachers tell me would bring you to tears. When we are blessed it is our duty to bless others. I sold Simply Irresistible in 2013 when Johns mother had terminal cancer. I felt like it was the right thing to do at the time. I took 5 years off and open I’m So Fancy in 2017 . Once again the people of Laurel county have made my business venture a success. I’m a blessed lady with two children Hunter And Khloe a wonderful husband of 12 years . John always supports my ideas no matter how crazy they are ! I have 2 bonus daughters Tara and Kandis and 4 grandchildren. I owe everything to the good Lord above.
2018 MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Earnest Matt House
Earnest Matt House was born March 9, 1955. A lifelong resident of London, he is the son of the late Kenneth and Ernestine Porter House. Mr. House had the great honor to be named after both of his grandfathers. Ernest comes for E.C. Porter a local grocery store owner and Matt comes from Matt House the owner of House’s Garage.
Mr. House received his early education of Kindergarten through 9th grade at the London City School. After that he enrolled as a 10th grader at the newly consolidated Laurel County High School. Mr. House excelled academically as well as athletically earning 14 Varsity letters and is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Upon graduation Mr. House was offered and accepted a full scholarship to play football for Eastern Kentucky University. While playing for EKU, Mr. House received many awards citing his football accomplishments such as First Team, All-OVC, OVC player of the year, OVS Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American, Eastern Kentucky University Athletic Hall of Fame as well as many others. Mr. House pursued a double major in Chemistry and Biology graduating in May of 1978.
Upon graduation, Mr. House returned to London and began working full-time at his family’s grocery store. It was here that he started learning about business and all the necessary components that are required to be successful. The knowledge learned by working in a highly competitive business along with one’s family proved to be priceless as it laid the foundation for Mr. House’s entrepreneurial career.
To date Mr. House has been involved in several different businesses in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida as well has having served on many different local, regional, and state boards and commissions. Mr. House attributes his success to his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the support and encouragement from the love of his life, his wife the former Kim Ryser, who was chosen in 1974 as the Laurel County Homecoming Queen and from the boundless love of his children and grandchildren.
2018 HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
Peggy Jo Kirby
I was born in Berea KY but was raised in the small town of Livingston in Rockcastle County. I am the youngest of 9 children born to Conley Durham and Naomi Wise Durham. My father taught me my work ethic, of always doing a good job at whatever task I am given – or just don’t do it at all. My precious Christian mother was a praying woman, and was the greatest influence of my life. She taught me to live by Godly morals, to be of upright character, and to love the people of my community. Her motto was, “you will never go wrong by being good to people”. My mother was strict and forced us to go to church. I resented it so much as a child, but am now so thankful for “the good raising” I was given by my parents. My church at First Pentecostal of London is now such an important part of my life, and I feel part of my calling in life is to serve as an intercessor and a prayer warrior on behalf of others.
My grandparents, T.J. and Delia Wise, lived on Hill Street in London and so I always had connections to our lovely city my whole life. In her later years my mother moved from Livingston into Carnaby Square Apts. in London. Soon afterward I took the job there as manager of the apt. complex and the shopping center nearby. Although my degree is in elementary education, I soon realized that my greater calling was actually working with the elderly. For the past 14 years my job at CSA has been both tough and very rewarding. I have worked hard there to make it a safe, clean, affordable place for seniors to live, in what is usually the very last “home of their own”. I strive for a friendly, family type atmosphere, where the elderly feel respected, wanted, and valued. In return my residents at CSA have become my best encouragers and my extended family. Over the years, thru these connections, I have also become closely acquainted with the children and grandchildren of my residents. These families are some of Laurel County’s finest citizens, and I am proud to call many of them my friends.
One day one of my CSA residents, Darrel Beck, (and my Pastor, Bro. Vernon Jarvis), sparked an interest inside of me about the homeless shelter in London that was closed down. I began to work hard to gain the interest of other local Pastors in London, and to gain the interest of the community, of Laurel County citizens, to re-open the closed shelter. I made many phone calls, did several newspaper articles in the Sentinel Echo, wrote Facebook posts, and hosted several public meetings to raise money for my cause. My efforts paid off, and the shelter was soon re-opened by those local Pastors and is now running successfully every day and is almost completely paid for. I still work as a volunteer for the Christian shelter, the Good Samaritan House, by doing regular food drives for them, and I operate their Facebook page.
I have been married to Dennis Kirby for more than 33 years. His bachelor’s degree is in Business Administration but he works along side me at CSA helping the elderly, and they love him even more than they love me. We have one son, Nathan, who lives in London. He is a full time firefighter in Corbin, a part-time firefighter for the city of London, a part-time employee at London Funeral Home, and also serves as a volunteer at many community events.
I don’t know what the future holds for me. I have helped in the planning of several community wide prayer meetings in Laurel County that were successful. In the future I really hope to help in the planning of many more community wide prayer services in our community. I feel I have truly been blessed by Laurel County and the people in it. I don’t plan to ever live anywhere else. I want to grow old here, die here, and be buried someday at A. R. Dyche. In the meantime, my desire is to be bold enough to use my voice, brave enough to listen to my heart, to encourage my fellow man, and to point ALL towards my Savior, Jesus Christ, thru my words and deeds. I am truly humbled to be chosen as the recipient for the award of Humanitarian. I can’t imagine a greater honor, THANK YOU from my heart.
OUT OF TOWNER HONOREE
Chera-Lyn Cook-Kennedy
The road you turn down to take in a little league ballgame is named Chera-Lyn Lane. Not because she was the best ballplayer, although her t-ball team, Little Tee Pee was undefeated and coached by longtime North Laurel High School head coach, Darren McWhorter. She was given the choice of a few road options after she was crowned Miss Kentucky 1998. She chose it because kids all over London would find their way home on that road every summer. She learned that from Dot and R.M. Yaden every time she crossed the road to eat at her grandparent’s home. She went on to win the talent title and be fourth runner-up to Miss America. She learned how to be that caliber performer at the Levi Jackson Ampitheater during Laurel County Homecoming’s variety show from the time she was 8 years old. She learned how important it is to pour into the youth of your community when Ann Smith gave her a monogrammed travel bag the year she began high school at the top of that hill during that very same annual week of Laurel County Homecoming. She has resided on the board of directors and as a member of committee for children’s programs such as Kingdom Design Ministries, Children’s Miracle Network, St. Jude’s Hospital, G.O. Ministries and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She learned how to pour into a community by actively taking part and loving through your gifts from those like Shawn and JoAnna Sizemore at First Christian Church. Chera-Lyn graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with an undergraduate and graduate specialist degrees in psychology, sociology and communications. She learned savvy and grit from Susan and Darrell Weaver by watching them as business owners and devoted spouses. Chera-Lyn and her husband Jason Kennedy have been crazy in love and married for eighteen years and have two really cool kids. Incidentally, she met her love on that same Little League field where she taught him all she knew about the love of the game. She learned how to dedicate yourself every single day to loving who you love with a love deep and true from her parents David and Gail Cook and then later from Jim and Jeni Kennedy, her in-laws. She learned to take delight in giving with joy, away from the spotlight and to value pretty things from Judy House of Paperdolls who continues to be one of her greatest role models in living a beautiful life. Lastly, she learned the power a woman can have to impact those she loves most from the hands of the most incredible and notorious women she has ever known and she learned those lessons right here at the Laurel County Homecoming.
You know they say you can’t go home again but I just had to come back one last time. The Laurel County Homecoming Committee including: Gail Cook Dobbs, Brenda McWhorter, Brenda Martin, Jewel Buckles, Pansy Harris, Susie Philpot, Barb Causey, Margie Harris Mitchell, and Alley Chambers will remain, the house that built me.
2018 LIFE-TIMER AWARD HONOREE
Roy Bowling
Roy Bowling, a name synonymous with women’s basketball in Kentucky, was born & raised in Laurel County. With the exception of college, 6 years in the Army & National Guard Reserves, and 5 years at Mercy Academy in Louisville, he has remained in Laurel County working, raising a family, and inspiring generations to excel.
Though Bowling enjoyed an amazing career coaching women’s basketball, his first love was baseball. He is a graduate of Georgetown College where he majored in physical education, minored in social studies, and played baseball. His team won their conference championship 3 years in a row. After graduation, Bowling served as head baseball coach at Hazel Green High School, at London High School, at Laurel County High School, and head softball coach at Laurel County High School.
Bowling’s baseball career is impressive, however, his most incredible achievements have been in basketball. According to KHSAA, Bowling is “The most influential coach in the history of girls’ high school basketball in Kentucky, whose early string of state championships prodded other schools to take the sport seriously. He ushered the girls’ game into the modern era.”
Bowling served as women’s head basketball coach at Laurel County High School, North Laurel High School, East Bernstadt Independent, and Mercy Academy in Louisville. He also served as a teacher and assistant boys basketball coach at London High School and Hazel Green High School.
In 25 years of women’s basketball, Bowling’s teams won 14 district, 8 regional and 4 state titles – 3 of which came during a remarkable stretch in 1977, 1978, and 1979. The 4th state title was earned in 1987. Setting a state record, Coach Bowling’s Laurel County High School Lady Cards won 73 consecutive games & 3 consecutive State Championships.
Due to this unprecedented success, Bowling went on to coach All Star Teams; was named National Coach of the Year District 3 in 1980, 1984, and 1989; 13th Region Coach of the Year 2010, Kentucky Coach of the Year 1978, 1979, 1980, and received 10th place in the Kentucky Sportsman of the Year. He has been inducted into the Laurel County Hall of Fame, the Dawahare’s KHSAA Hall of Fame, The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Kentucky Hall of Fame.
At age 53, Bowling retired after the 1989 season with a 15-year record of 403-61 at Laurel County. His total combined career record for women’s softball, women’s basketball, boy’s baseball, boy’s basketball is a remarkable 1,101 – 388.
In addition to coaching, Bowling has served as Director of Pupil Personnel at East Bernstadt Independent, London High School, and Laurel County, as well as Athletic Director at Mercy Academy, and London High School. Bowling holds a Rank I from Union College in Administration and has served as a board member at Laurel Heights Nursing Home.
Roy Bowling & wife Mary Jo still call London home where they have lived, served, raised 3 lovely daughters (Carrie, Debbie, & the late Jan Duncum) and have seven amazing grandchildren.
Congratulations, Roy Bowling, 2018 Laurel County Homecoming Honoree!
2018 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Martin’s Peterbilt
A simple and self-educated man Bert Martin Sr was just trying to provide the best he could for his family. In the early 1960’s he was trucking and hauling produce all over the country. One winter night in 1965 he was involved in a multiple vehicle accident that left him and several of his trucks stranded hundreds of miles from home. After having his trucks towed back to London he was faced with a difficult decision. His wife Edna was at home with his 5 children who depended on him to provide. Bills needed to be paid and the trucks were out of service. Bert ran into a trucker who had a starter out on one of his trucks, so Bert was quick to help him out. He then realized at that time this could be the start of something. He sold him one of the starters out of his wrecked trucks. Bert and his son Mike started parting the trucks out piece by piece and this was paying the bills. Little did he realize this was the beginning of Martin’s Truck Parts.
Bert saw the need of good used affordable parts in our area and with a business mind knew what had to be done. Mike and Bert Martin Sr. converted an Old International R190 into a wrecker. He used this wrecker to haul wrecked trucks back to the piece of land on Mill Street by the family home. As the business grew he turned to his other 3 sons for help Troy, Bert Jr and David to help offer more and more to meet the growing list of customers.
The shop on Mill street was becoming too small for the business they had. The piece of property on I75 came available in 1980 and the boys quickly jumped on this prime property. Bert has always lived by the Golden rule and he wanted this to be applied to the running of the business. In 1987 Western Star approached with the opportunity for a dealership and they quickly accepted this new adventure.
In 2000 our reputation for service and commitment to satisfy customers caught the eye of Peterbilt Motors Co. This partnership has proved to be a great one. Our family’s reputation for doing what’s right packaged with the most desirable truck on the road has escalated into a huge quantity of Peterbilt trucks in eastern Ky and southern WV. Martin’s Peterbilt opened in 2001 a parts facility in Paintsville, KY . In 2007 we opened our full service dealership in Pikeville, KY and in 2013 we opened a full service facility in Hurricane, WV. In 2015 we opened a parts store in Lexington, KY and now currently building a state of the art full service store off exit 115 in Lexington, KY. Also to help meet the needs of our customers we opened a complete tire shop and an insurance company to be your one stop place.
Now its 2018 and our business is in its 3rd generation and have grown to be able to offer nearly anything needed in the transportation industry. New and used truck and trailer sales, parts, paint and bodywork, tires, road service, collision insurance, health insurance and life insurance…if it has anything to do with a truck, we can help you.
The Lord has blessed us to grow in ways we never dreamed possible. One thing will never change, Martin’s Peterbilt promises to always treat you the way we want to be treated. Whether you have 1 truck or a 1000 you are important to us. Our goal is to keep your trucks moving through outstanding parts availability and unmatched service, while giving all the thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2018 RISING STAR AWARD
Cameron Jackson
We would like to introduce our very first Honoree! Our Rising Star Cameron Jackson! This honoree is based on a paper written about Laurel County by a senior. Cameron will be awarded a $500 scholarship to the school of his choice. We also want to thank all our applicants for this award!
My name is Christopher Cameron Jackson. I am 18 years old. I am the son of Chris and Melinda Jackson. I am the grandson of Arthur and Doshia Barrett of Manchester, KY and David and Earmlen Jackson of Manchester as well. I have lived in London, Ky my entire life. I attended Sublimity Elementary, Wyan Pine Grove Elementary, South Laurel Middle School, South Laurel High School and the Laurel County Center for Innovation, where I was in the biomedical science department. According to my weighted GPA, I am ranked 15th in my class of 216 graduating seniors. According to my unweighted GPA, I am ranked 1st.
My goals upon graduating from high school on June 2, 2018 include attending the University of Kentucky PEPP program beginning June 6, 2018. This is a 4 week program for aspiring physicians. This fall, I will be attending Eastern Kentucky University majoring in biomedical science with a pre-med emphasis.
I have always tried to stay active in sports and within my community. While in school I played baseball, basketball, football, ran track, but my true passion was soccer. I was also a member of the Laurel County Youth Leadership Council for 5 years. The LCYLC is a service based council that focuses on our community in Laurel County. I plan to stay active in the community even when I go to college. Community service is something that my family has stressed to me, along with the sponsors of the LCYLC. I have always believed that we should be proud of our community and try to make it better than it was and leave it better tomorrow than it is today.
After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University I plan on attending medical school (hopefully at the University of Kentucky), then returning to London (or some neighboring county) to practice medicine as a general physician and/or pediatrician.
2018 NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR
Cumberland Valley Children’s Advocacy Center
The Cumberland Valley Children’s Advocacy Center is a Nonprofit organization striving everyday to help reduce the trauma experienced by child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, human trafficking and children who have witnessed violent crimes. The Advocacy Center is the designated regional child advocacy center for the Cumberland Valley Region that serves eight counties. The Advocacy Center provides specialized services on site forensic interviewing, trauma focused therapy, comprehensive child sex abuse exams, advocacy and support at no expense to a child’s family. The Center also coordinates and collaborates with agencies that work child victims; law enforcement, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, County and Commonwealth Attorney’s and other victim advocates.
With 20 years of serving child victims the Advocacy Center is excited to announce their expansion of services for Bell and Harlan County children with the opening of a satellite office in Harlan County.
FY 17 there was 630 forensic interviews, 1,117 mental health services, 8970 advocacy and support services and 51 child sex abuse exams.
The Cumberland Valley Children’s Advocacy Center is committed to promoting the safety, health and emotional well-being of abused children and their supportive caregivers by bringing together a coordinated multi-agency response.
Executive Director: Paige Lay
Child Advocates: Robin Lefevers, Kayla Johnson, Sarah Saylor
Forensic Interviewers/Therapist: Tracy Miller, Alysha Floyd
Therapist: Alisa Johnson, Amber Madden