Jackson chamber hands out its top honors

The stars of the Jackson community were out Monday night for the chamber of commerce's most prestigious annual event: the presenting of the R.A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award.

And the winner was ... Carl Talley, who began his career with the city as a street department worker. Talley went on to serve as city administrator for 22 years and retired in 1994 after a period of incredible and enviable growth in that city.

Talley devoted his life to improving Jackson, sometimes driving around on Sundays with a pad and pencil so he could write down items that needed to be addressed. It is certainly fitting and appropriate that he should receive the chamber's top honor.

But it wasn't just Talley in the spotlight this week. The chamber also awarded Bob Cranmer of Dalton Florist (Business of the Year), Andy Killebrew of Rubbermaid (Industry of the Year) and Gene Penzel for his 24 years of service to the Jackson Industrial Development Corp.

Hats off to all the people and businesses representing excellent service to the Jackson community.