Buster’s, Gideons, Torrences earn top honors at chamber meeting
Published 9:18 pm Thursday, January 25, 2018
A community staple, a dedicated citizen and well-known couple earned top awards at the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual meeting tonight at The Club.
Buster’s Restaurant, known for its daily specials and home cooking, won the 2017 Business of the Year award; Malcolm “Bub” Gideons won the 2017 Citizen of the Year Award; and Cornell and Mavis Torrence won the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.
“We’re so thankful; this is such an honor,” Buster’s Restauraunt Co-Owner Sarah Frances Thompson said. “We’ve been so thankful to be a part of the community for so long.
“This year has been exciting for us,” she said. “We couldn’t have done this without our staff.”
Gideons, a well-known advocate of the city of Atmore, has been involved with several organizations, including the Pride of Atmore, Save the Strand effort; the downtown revitalization effort; the Lions Club; and several other entities.
“I’m without words, which is a first,” Gideons quipped once he received the award.
For the Torrences, winning the Lifetime Achievement Award was truly surprising.
“To my fellow citizens, thank you,” Cornell said.
Mavis chimed in, “behind every man, there is a good woman.”
Quint Studer was the guest speaker at the banquet; now Chamber Past President Chris Singleton gave some outgoing remarks; and 2018 President Brandy Giger gave remarks about the upcoming year.
“What an exciting time to be president of the chamber,” Giger said. “This year will all be about change.
“Either get on the train, or get off,” she said.
Giger concluded her remarks by establishing a hash tag for the city of Atmore — #DiscoverAtmore.
