Long-time Lincoln Parish banker John F. Emory, Sr. is the recipient of the 2007 Robert E. Russ Award for community service.

The award, given by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, is the community's highest honor for outstanding contributions to local business and civic development. Emory received the award Jan. 18 during the chamber's annual Gala held at the Ruston Civic Center.

The Ruston Jaycees also announced their Outstanding Young People awards, with the top honor going to Ruston police officer Nathan Scheer. Other Jaycee winners were Brad Wall, Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office, Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer; Kevin Reynolds, Lincoln Parish Fire District No. 1, Outstanding Young Firefighter; and Lillie Williams, Ruston Junior High, Outstanding Young Educator.

Joe Dickson, founder and commander of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department volunteer Sheriff's Citizens Observer Patrol, was named the winner of the Ruston Rotary Club William "Bill" Best Humanitarian Award.

Two other Ruston residents - Al Brasuell and Tom Kilpatrick - were honored by the Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau for their contributions to tourism through opening new hotels in 2007. Brasuell is owner of Sleep Inn and Suites; Kilpatrick, of Fairfield Inn and Suites.

The Chamber also presented local radio station manager Gary McKenney with a special award for his contributions to business development through free advertising certificates awarded to new chamber members. The Lincoln Parish School Board also recognized the Ruston Rotary Club and Dixie Center for the Arts as Distinguished Partners in Education, while the Squire Creek Louisiana Peach Festival awarded a collegiate public service scholarship to Ruston High School sophomore Lea Anna Cardwell of Simsboro.

Chamber President Scott Terry said the gala honors "people and groups helping others ... giving back to their community."

"And there are always a few really special people who just can't say no. It is that group that always goes a little farther than what is expected of them. It is the efforts of those few that we are celebrating," he said about the award recipients.

Emory, 75, is the former CEO and current chairman of Community Trust Bank. CTB has locations in Lincoln, Union and Ouachita parishes. A native of Choudrant in Lincoln Parish, Emory began his banking career in 1955 at the former Ruston State Bank, and rose through the ranks to RSB's senior vice presidency.

Under Emory's leadership, the former Bank of Choudrant became the current CTB financial network.

"Mr. Emory's business skills are legend in these parts and far beyond," said Becky Napper, of the Marbury Building Corp. in Ruston. "Under his strong, steady, Christian-principled leadership, a small community bank, the Bank of Choudrant, has grown into a regional powerhouse."

Recently, Emory was the driving force behind creation of a new multi-parish northeast Louisiana economic development group.

"Mr. Emory really demonstrated his leadership this past year when he pushed for the creation of an economic development organization to represent a four-to-five parish region," the chamber's Terry said. "He led our organizational group by pulling together individuals from Lincoln, Ouachita, Union, Richland, and Morehouse parishes."

Emory's influence has also "touched almost any and every philanthropic endeavor organized within his earshot," Napper said.

Marlen Waters, director of the Dixie Center for the Arts, credited Emory's support with helping the restoration of the historic theater become a reality.

"He believed in preserving and enhancing the Dixie, knowing that the theater would become an entertainment anchor contributing to the preservation and revitalization of historic downtown Ruston," she said.

Emory has been actively involved with a number of community organizations including Med Camps of Louisiana, North Central Louisiana Arts Council, United Way, and Boy Scouts of America. He also served on the Ruston Board of Alderman from 1964-72.

"His sound advice, wise counsel and invaluable experience have been admired by his peers and have impacted the lives of countless people," said Louisiana Tech University president Dan Reneau. "Throughout his career, he has displayed an interest in the total community and has devoted time and energy to preserving the heritage of Ruston, while opening doors to our promising future."

Emory is a graduate of Tech, of the Bish Mathis Institute Business School, and the LSU Graduate School of Banking. He and his wife, Sallie, have four sons and three grandchildren.

The gala was hosted by First National Bank of Ruston. Co-sponsors were Northern Louisiana Medical Center, BancorpSouth, Entergy, and the Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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