Grambling, LA – Coach Wilbert Ellis has been named the recipient of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce 2015 Robert E. Russ Award, to be presented at the Chamber’s Awards Banquet on Jan. 22. This award is the highest honor given by the Chamber for community advancement.
“Coach Ellis was among eight community members to be nominated this year,” said Chamber President Judy Copeland. “You don’t have to look very hard to see why Ruston-Lincoln is such a special place, it’s the incredible people.” “There absolutely could not be a finer selection for the Russ Award than Coach Ellis,” said Chamber Chair-Elect Cathi Cox-Boniol. “When you think about an individual who has dedicated their life to enhancing not only their community but the people in it, the name of Wilbert Ellis has to come to mind. I can assure you there are countless folks in Lincoln Parish whose lives have been directly impacted by this man, and he has contributed significantly to their quality of life. And that in turn has impacted us all. A legendary baseball coach whose name can be seen on everything from facilities to Hall of Fame plaques, perhaps his greatest imprint will be on the legions of young people he has tirelessly worked with through the decades. Following in the exquisite footsteps of his mentor ‘Prez’ Jones, Coach Ellis has left an indelible impression on the face of Lincoln Parish, something he continues to do to this day as a true champion for his home and the people in it.”
The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 22 with a wine-and-cheese social sponsored by Origin Bank. Anna Blake, Miss Queen Dixie Gem, will entertain guests with her musical talent of tickling the ivories, sponsored by Hunt, Guillot and Associates. Dinner will be served at 6:45 p.m. Attire is business casual. Tickets are $40 each for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. A reserved table for six is $250 for Chamber members and $275 for non-members. For tickets, register online at www.rustonlincoln.org, call the Chamber at 255-2031, or drop by the Chamber office located at 2111 North Trenton Street.
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