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The Fort Mims Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recognized Dale Ash and Cindy Colville for their excellence in community service during their regular meeting Nov. 16.

Ash and Colville, both sisters, received the excellence in community service award certificates at a meeting at Encore at the Strand Theatre.

According to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, chapters and states recognize unpaid voluntary community service of individuals and organizations. Qualifications for the award include a contribution to the community in an outstanding manner through voluntary heroic, civic, benevolent service, or by organizing or participating in community activities; the activities must have taken place within the past five years with no compensation; members of the DAR are eligible for the award if the service is unrelated to their activities; and other qualifications.

“It’s a team, everybody works together to make Atmore better,” Ash and Colville echoed after being presented with a certificate.
Flag Committee Chairwoman Nancy Karrick, who presented the awards during the meeting, asked each to write a little bit about themselves without knowing both were being recognized.

Karrick read their contributions.

“Cindy stated that Dale was active in many years of Atmore life,” Karrick said. “She has been the co-owner of Pepsi Bottling Co. of Atmore since 1993, on the United Bank Board of Directors since 1993 and is a past president of the Alabama Beverage Assocation.”

Ash is a founding board member of Main Street Atmore, the Main Street Foundation, president and design committee chairman and facilitated over 45 façade grants for downtown Atmore in the last three years.

As a member of Pride of Atmore, Ash has been instrumental in securing funding, including historic tax credits and a federal earmark toward restoring two historic buildings, the Strand Theatre and the Atmore Hardware Store (Encore).

Karrick said Ash served in her capacity on the Pride of Atmore with no salary, donating much of her time.

“Dale Ash has definitely left her mark on the town of Atmore in an outstanding manner through her voluntary and civic service and her participation and leadership in helping to restore historic buildings along Main Street in Atmore,” Karrick said.

At the beginning of the Pride of Atmore focus group in 2017, Colville provided a box lunch for everyone and for focus groups through July 2018.

Colville helped set up a meeting with Pride of Atmore and Historic Preservationist Stephen McNair to insure that any historic restoration would adhere to the U.S. Department of Interior guidelines.

Colville became chairman of the Pride’s capital campaign in 2018, and she helped lead the twice a month meeting with the architects, owners and contractors once construction began.

Colville also helped coordinate theatre design with Franklin Design, insuring that the 1920 theatre was historically appropriate and what the department of interior required. Additionally, she served as advisor, point of contact and provided endless amounts of time tracking the restoration and renovation of the theatre and hardware store, Karrick said.

As a culinary artist, Colville has donated food for the annual Ribs on Ridgeley Street and helped with Myrna’s Salad Luncheons, both fundraisers for Pride of Atmore.

“Dale and Cindy, it’s your time to shine now as we present you with the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award for your part in ‘Saving the Strand’ and the adjacent Atmore Hardware Building,” Karrick said.

Additionally, Karrick presented a U.S. Flag to the Pride of Atmore. The flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol.