Jackson Heritage Association elects new officers, gives out awards at annual banquet

The Jackson Heritage Association's recent 30th annual banquet at Bent Creek honored pillars of the community and elected new officers and board members.

Kyle Mabuce and Jim Woeltje received the Unsung Hero award.

Jack Litzelfelner Sr. received the Joyce Peerman award. When Litzelfelner brought his business ventures to Jackson in 1960, he made an impact on the community by offering employment and working with Jackson's youth. He founded the Jackson School District Foundation, was a founding board member of Kimbeland Country Club and was instrumental in the widening of Highway 61.

Among Litzelflener's contributions to the community, his pursuit of developing residential communities since the 1960s has grown to include condominiums on the golf course he constructed in 1989, which has raised more than a million dollars for local and other charitable organizations.

He donated land to the city for Litz Park and currently, along with his lifelong friend, Whitey Herzog, is working to bring another baseball facility to Jackson.

Jim Woeltje received the JHA Unsung Hero award at their annual awards banquet held recently at Bent Creek Golf Course.

The 2007 officers and board members were sworn in at the meeting. They are president Pat Fosse, president pro-tem Kyle Mabuce, secretary Bonnie Macke and treasurer Cheryl Mabuce. Board members include Linda Nash, Cathi Stoverink, Justin Gibbs, Phyllis Seabaugh, Vicki Lane, Mary Ann Burgess and Steve Green.

The pledge of allegiance was recited by 3-year-old Alexis Tang. Kayla Foster, Bailey Duncan and Robyn Hosp sang a golf parody of "I Will Survive," to Litzelfelner.