Memorial
Medical Center Awarded
"Industry of the Year"
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
story courtesy of Port Lavaca Wave
Area businesses
recognized at awards dinner The coveted community man and woman of
the year awards went to a well-known married couple Thursday night.
Shannon and Gwen
Salyer, two county residents who have been very active in the community,
were honored before the approximately 500 people attending the 69th
Port Lavaca/Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture awards
banquet and trade show.
Gwen and Shannon
were introduced by Mary Clark, last year's woman of the year.
Gwen and Shannon
were nominated because of the incredible amount of work they have
done to beautify Calhoun County and particularly Magnolia Beach. Shannon
and Gwen organized a non-profit corporation called Keep Calhoun County
Beautiful and organized numerous cleanups on road ways and beaches
in Calhoun County.
The Salyers join
several times a year with other volunteers who help clean up roadways
and beaches to keep Calhoun County beautiful. Gwen and Shannon often
lead other volunteers in cutting grass, picking up trash and trimming
shrubs along the roads - particularly on the roads at Alamo/Indianola/Magnolia
beaches and they do it all the time, not just on clean up days.
Anyone who visits
these beaches can see the improvements made by Gwen and Shannon. The
most obvious result of their efforts are the many palm trees planted
at the entrance of Magnolia Beach and along the beach.
Gwen has become
known as the "palm tree Lady" at the beach. Gwen and Shannon
have also raised a lot of money for clean up and beach improvements.
Gwen has written grants that resulted in awards for Keep Calhoun County
Beautiful.
Shannon was very
instrumental in obtaining the grant from the General Land Office that
is being used to stop beach erosion at Magnolia-Indianola beach. Shannon
also drafted, at no charge to the county during his off time, a county
ordinance in 1999 which allowed Calhoun County to adopt state law
to stop the accumulation of junk in the unincorporated areas of the
county.
Gwen is a native
of Port Lavaca, but has lived in Corpus Christi most of her adult
life. Gwen and Shannon, who is an assistant district attorney, met
in Port Lavaca when Shannon was a young lawyer here shortly after
graduating from St. Mary's Law School.
Gwen is the daughter
of James Record and the late Mrs. Record. Shannon grew up in Bay City
where his dad was district attorney and later district judge.
Despite living
in Corpus Christi, the Salyers continued their contact with Calhoun
County by virtue of their many stays at the Records' property at Miller's
Point at Magnolia Beach.
The Salyers made
many improvements to their property at Miller's Point including planting
many palm trees and keeping the property so well manicured that many
people thought a golf course was being built.
In 1998 Shannon
decided to leave Corpus Christi and return to Miller's Point to live.
Shannon closed his successful law practice and Gwen sold the house
and brought the children to Port Lavaca. Shannon has also been active
in coaching the Calhoun High School "We The People" speech
and civics competition sponsored by Mrs. Jenny Westbrook.
Memorial
Medical Center (MMC) was awarded the industry of the year award. Larry
Robinson presented the award to Buzz Currier, MMC executive director
who accepted the award on behalf of the hospital.
The
hospital has been very progressive over the years. Recently, to put
the hospital on the cutting edge of medical technology and to save
taxpayers money, the hospital caused Calhoun County Medical Foundation
to be formed to match grant funds to be used toward the purchase of
a Digital Radiographic and Fluoroscopic System for MMC.
The
program is now in place at MMC.
Robinson
said the hospital staff showed dedication and gave innovative service
to the community. "It has taken major steps to make the hospital
operations efficient," he said.
