Kingsville Chamber of Commerce honorees included, from left, Martin Clement, Ilda Ruiz, Stanley Laskowski, Wilva and Marty West, and outgoing Chamber President Ode Moreno. The 2010 chamber president is William Marin. (Photo by Erika Hernandez) Martin Clement was presented with the 2009 Otis West Lifetime Service Award Thursday as The Kingsville Chamber of Commerce honored community leaders and businesses at its annual membership banquet held at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Ballrooms.

Awards were also presented to Stanley Laskowski, 2009 Citizen of the Year; Ilda Ruiz, 2009 Ambassador of the Year; and Wilva and Marty West (Discount Liquor), 2009 Business of the Year.

Alice Byers, chamber of commerce executive director, presented Ruiz with the award for 2009 Ambassador of the Year.

Ruiz, has her own business, Ruiz Bookkeeping, and is also employed with the TAMUK Communications & Theatre Arts Department as well as serving as secretary of the Chamber Ambassadors.

Ruiz participated in many of the Chamber Ambassador activities such as the annual Pet Parade on July 4th and the handing out of baskets at Thanksgiving.

“I did not expect this at all, I was very surprised and am truly honored,” Ruiz said.

Dick Messbarger, 2008 Citizen of the Year, presented Stanley Laskowski with the award for 2009 Citizen of the Year.

Messbarger had everyone in the audience raise their hands, and began naming organizations involving the recipient.

Messbarger then asked the audience to lower their hand if they were not involved in those specific organizations he was announcing and in the end the recipient would be the last person with a hand up.

Messbarger began listing organizations such as Keep Kingsville Beautiful, Adopt- A-Spot, Cactus Bowl, Douglass School renovation, Operation Paintbrush, and the Kingsville Citizens Police Academy.

The name of the recipient was becoming more obvious as the final list of organizations was cited, including Communities in Schools Board Member and and past president of the Noon Lions Club.

Kingsville City Commissioner Stanley Laskowski was the last person with his hand in the air.

“You have been a constant community volunteer and I think you know who you are,” Messbarger said. “Come on up here Stanley.”

Laskowski walked his way up to the podium as the audience gave him a roaring applause.

“Thank you so much for this award,” Laskowski said. “I want to thank one person and that is my wife, Susan; she has been by my side through all my years of volunteer work and has been patient with me as she has to check my weekend schedule before planning a vacation. I thought I was going to retire and rest but since I retired there has not been a dull moment; however, I enjoy being a part of the community and helping others and I appreciate this award very much.”

Jerry Miller of CB’s Bar- B-Que, 2008 Business of the Year, presented Discount Liquor with the award for 2009 Business of the Year.

“It’s an honor to pass this award to someone else,” Miller said. “The business receiving the award tonight has been a sponsor of many events such as the Cactus Bowl, the Kleberg-Kenedy County Junior Livestock Show, the Kingsville Historic Downtown District Association, the King Ranch Ranch Hand Breakfast, Javelina Sports and many chamber events.”

Marty and Wilva West, owners of Discount Liquor, accepted the award and acknowledged their staff for their hard work.

“I never pictured myself where I am today; I am basically blown away and don’t know what to say,” Marty West said. “I do want to thank our general manager Michael DeLeon. In every business there is that one person who gets work done and is a big part of the success, and for our business that person is Michael.”

Milton Kimball, 2008 Otis West Lifetime Service Award recipient, presented this year’s award to Martin Clement.

Clement was born and raised in Kingsville and volunteered for many years in numerous organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, the Kleberg-Kenedy County Junior Livestock Show, the Cactus Bowl, the Navy League, the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Kingsville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the TAMUK 2010 Committee, and many others.

“He is a member of the King Ranch Family Trust, is an the U.S. Army veteran and retired from King Ranch after serving 37 years; he has been behind the scenes in working with NAS Kingsville, the City of Kingsville, and Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg for many years,” Kimball said.

“He is one of the first men in Kingsville to go to for help and has always been a friend to the community.”

Clement, who shuns the limelight, accepted his award along with a standing ovation and said he was very flattered.

Dr. Rex Gandy, TAMUK Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, served as the keynote speaker.

Gandy spoke of the many developments at TAMUK currently in progress such as the opening of new apartment-like residential hall, University Village, and the new Student Recreation Center scheduled to open next month.

“We are also in the process of planning to build a new dining facility and another new residential hall built to suit 300 students,” Gandy said.

“Also with the new legislature we are looking to build a new music building and obtain a degree in veterinary technology.”

“We are currently working with architects to put together a 50 year master plan for the facilities of this university and we are excited for the many beginnings our university has to look forward too.” Gandy said.

Incoming Chamber President William Marin (Comfort Inn) presented outgoing Chamber President Ode Moreno (KISD) with a plaque for her service.

Serving with Marin in 2010 are President Elect Norman McBride

(Spohn Hospital), Vice President for Finance Linda Hahn (Hahn & Oldham, P.C.), Vice President for Membership Lisa Munoz (Salon de Lis) and Executive Director Alice Byers.