Caroline Wadzeck is surprised at her selection as the 2016 Dayton Citizen of the Year Award. Wadzeck was presented the award by Dayton Mayor Jeff Lambright.

Caroline Wadzeck is surprised at her selection as the 2016 Dayton Citizen of the Year Award. Wadzeck was presented the award by Dayton Mayor Jeff Lambright.

Master of Ceremonies Mike Little presents a gavel donated by former State Representative John Otto to outgoing 2016 Chairman of the Board of Directors James Reese, general manager of Chilis in Liberty.

Master of Ceremonies Mike Little presents a gavel donated by former State Representative John Otto to outgoing 2016 Chairman of the Board of Directors James Reese, general manager of Chilis in Liberty.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Lana McCarty.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Lana McCarty.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director John Wright.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director John Wright.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Brenda McManus Fairchild.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Brenda McManus Fairchild.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Bessie Conn.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Bessie Conn.

The Master of Ceremonies for the 41st Annual Awards banquet for the Libety-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce was Mike Little. He is the municipal judge for the city of Liberty.

The Master of Ceremonies for the 41st Annual Awards banquet for the Libety-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce was Mike Little. He is the municipal judge for the city of Liberty.

The Honor Guard from the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Dayton High school presented the colors at the banquet while Anne Marie Smesny sang the national anthem.

The Honor Guard from the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Dayton High school presented the colors at the banquet while Anne Marie Smesny sang the national anthem.

Liberty-Dayton Chamber honors leaders, citizens

An overflow crowd witnessed the 41st annual Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce Awards on the night of Feb. 28 and with it the hilarious comedy of guest speaker Chad Prather of Burleson, Texas.

Filled with anticipation, chamber officials honored their outgoing board and various members for their service during the previous year.

None was as poignant as the recognition given to the Flat Line Cookers, the cooking team of Liberty County EMS, who knocked it out of the park with their steaks and trimmings at last August's Liberty-Dayton 500. The moment was subdued as many were still remembering Craig Ringer who died suddenly Feb. 24.

Ringer was instrumental in buying and cooking the food, leading the cook team through the successful event and rescuing the chamber in a time of need.

Caroline Wadzeck was honored as the 2016 Citizen of the Year for the city of Dayton.

After receiving her Master of Library Science in 1979, she was hired as a librarian in Dayton and helped design the Richter library adding the reading pit and courtyard. In 1988 she was named Teacher of the Year at Dayton ISD.

She served many terms on the Dayton Library Board and the Dayton Classroom Teachers Association.

In 1991 she was hired as an elementary librarian at Barbers Hill ISD, serving there until 2009, the year both she and her husband retired.

She has used much of her time traveling and volunteering for the city. She left on a trip to Ireland the morning after the chamber banquet.

When she is not traveling, she said she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

In her spare time, she wrote "The Streets of Dayton: History by the Block." She donated the proceeds from the sale of her book to the Dayton Historical Society where she has become a force in preserving the history of Dayton. She currently serves as recording secretary for the Historical Society and is a curator at the Dayton Old School Museum. She was appointed to the Dayton Enhancement Committee and plays an integral role in the beautification of Dayton.

Wadzeck is an active member of the DAR, secretary of Lakata Club, the Dayton Police and Fire Museum and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dayton where she sings in the choir. She was recently named Volunteer of the Year at the Dayton Chamber banquet.

Ann Daniel Rogers is the recipient of the Liberty Citizen of the Year for 2016.

A proud Liberty High School Panther, Rogers has served as the unofficial go-to person and producer of many successful reunions for over 50 years, and became a charter member of the Liberty ISD Education Foundation upon its inception.

During the earlier years, she readily shared musical talents as pianist for the Liberty Rotary Club, and as a vocalist in choirs, high school musicals, and little theater productions; and was an avid worker with both the Girl and Boy Scouts when this parent's children were participants.

After personally witnessing a family member's struggle to interpret letters, words, and symbols, she was one of the earliest (if not the first) in the area to begin delving into the misunderstood world of dyslexia. She was further dismayed upon learning how many adults silently suffered with the inability to read or write so she independently sought out and obtained certification as a Dyslexia Teaching Specialist and began to meet this need by tutoring school-aged learners and adults alike, much done without compensation. Though vocations of dyslexia tutor and owner/instructor of a private driving school were a means of supporting herself and her children, one had only to express interest or need, and payment became negotiable.

In the late 1980s, as her own three children were becoming self-sufficient, she began a long career at Hardin ISD as an often-requested kindergarten teacher. Lastly she served as ESL coordinator and became certified in the Irlen Syndrom. She developed and facilitated the district's testing program, and continues to test and tutor when needed on a volunteer basis. Before retiring from Hardin ISD in 2007, she established a personal scholarship for graduating seniors.

During retirement, she became an active member and officer of the Friends of the Library, working on numerous projects and for many years in their Jubilee Bake and Book Sale. Also, as a self-taught "computer guru," she began "piecing together" old computers and accessories and has quietly provided re-built (and often new) computers at no charge to area retirement homes, needy graduating seniors, churches, missionaries in Nepal and the Philippines, just to name a few. This endeavor led to her next offer: to teach free adult computer classes at the Liberty Library as well as writing the accompanying manuals and handouts. These classes continue to be a popular service offered by the Library, at no expense to them or the student.

She has been active in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and recently voted an Honorary Life Member of the Board of Directors for Bridgehaven Children's Advocacy Center.

Prather later took the stage and with his characteristic humor, provided an entertaining evening for the guests.

Guest speaker Chad Prather's popularity exploded when his humorous video "Unapologetically Southern" went viral.

In 2016, Chad Prather and Fort Worth, Texas comedian Cowboy Bill Martin teamed up to begin the Kings of Cowtown World Comedy Tour. This was his second appearance at the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce.

"Sometimes we're like the dogs that run in packs-they sleep, eat, fight amongst themselves and allow new members in the pack," Prather said.

Referring to the sleepers, "We'll sit back and be lethargic and let everyone else run the organization regardless of what happens. It's always been done that way," he said.

The eaters, he said, are no better.

"We like to consume whatever is given us. We're good at taking the benefits, while not providing very much of our own.

And every group has misunderstandings and disagreements.

"We'll have squabbles that stop our creativity and inspiration that soon stops our progress."

And adding to the pack is sometimes worrisome.

"We're happy to welcome new members if we're not threatened by them and as long as they're willing to do it our way," he said.

Dogs will do all of those things like their human counterparts until a rabbit runs by, Prather smiled.

"As soon as that rabbit runs by, the sleepers wake up and start chasing, the ones eating will join the run, the ones who are fighting will quit and in unity join the rest of the pack in the hunt and new members can join the pack as long as they're willing to hunt," the comedian said.

"I say to Dayton and to Liberty, find your rabbit, your common goal. As one community, one common goal, find your rabbit and chase that thing. Follow your community leaders and the example and standard they set and support them."

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Liberty-Dayton Chamber honors leaders, citizens - Houston Chronicle - Chron.com