STANDING OVATIONS ABOUND AT UNITY BREAKFAST

Nikki Radford accepts Thurmond Award/photo by Adam May

            THERE WERE NUMEROUS STANDING OVATIONS AND A SENSE OF FELLOWSHIP FOR MAYOR DAN KEMP’S UNITY BREAKFAST AT THE HOLIDAY INN THIS MORNING.

            THE FEATURED SPEAKER WAS JENNIE STUART MEDICAL CENTER HUMAN RESOURCES EXECUTIVE AUSTIN MOSS, WHO TALKED OF DISCRIMINATION HE FELT AS A CHILD AND IN ADULTHOOD.

            SPECIFICALLY, HE TOLD OF SEEING THE PAIN ON HIS PARENTS’ FACES WHEN HE AND HIS SIBLINGS WERE DENIED THE RIGHT TO SWIM IN A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

            MOSS SAID HIS PARENTS TAUGHT HIM TO NOT HATE ANYONE BECAUSE OF THEIR COLOR AND SAID HIS FAITH HAS HELPED HIM THRIVE EVEN IN ADVERSITY.

            THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S UNITY AWARD IS JIM WISBY, WHO HAS BEEN AN IMPORANT PART OF THE CHALLENGE HOUSES, THE WARM COATS FOR KIDS PROJECT WITH KIWANIS AND MANY OTHER CHARITABLE EFFORTS IN CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

            WINNING THIS YEAR’S PRESTIGIOUS HAL AND BETTY THURMOND AWARD WAS CITY OF HOPKINSVILLE ADMINISTRATOVE COORDINATOR NIKKI RADFORD WHO, LIKE WISBY, RECEIVED A PROLONGED STANDING OVATION FROM THE LARGE CROWD.

            THE HOPKINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR SANG THREE NUMBERS TO CLOSE THE PROGRAM, ALSO GREETED WITH A STANDING OVATION.

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Jim Wisby speaks after receiving Unity Award/photo by Adam May

Mayor Dan Kemp speaks at his Unity Breakfast/photo by Adam May