N.E. Reed Remembered At Edmonson County Industrial Authority Annual Awards Banquet

Wabuck Development, Yahagi American Molding Receive Top Honors

Joseph Barkoff, story and photos:
The candles on the tables and illuminated Christmas tree in the corner were perhaps less brilliant than decorations in past decades without the presence of pillar N.E. Reed at the annual Edmonson Industrial Authority Awards Banquet at Tayvin Gardens Thursday December 15 in Smiths Grove.
 
Wabuck Development Company President Gary Watkins received the Edmonson County Industrial Authority “Business of the Year” award and repeat offender in the “Industry of the Year,” Yahagi American Molding Inc. COO Toshihiko Yamamoto was there to receive that award again.
 

Wabuck Development Company President Gary Watkins (left) receives the Edmonson County Industrial Authority Business of the Year award from Industrial Authority Board Chairman Kevin Alexander at the annual Industrial Authority Award Banquet at Tayvin Gardens, Thursday, December 15, 2022 in Chalybeate.

Yahagi American Molding Inc. COO Toshihiko Yamamoto (middle) receives the Edmonson County Industrial Authority Industry of the Year award from Industrial Authority Board Chairman Kevin Alexander at the annual Industrial Authority Award Banquet at Tayvin Gardens Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 in Chalybeate.

Beverly Reed, the widow of N.E., showed she too is a pillar, with her family by her side, and received an award of “honor and remembrance” from Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander, who also serves as Chairman of the Industrial Authority.
 
Alexander was again the master of ceremony for the annual evening and he apologized for not acquiring a guest speaker this year, but was able to fill the evening with amusing, light-hearted anecdotes of his own to fill some of the space while those in attendance enjoyed the salad, ham, chicken mashed potatoes and green beans.
 
As County Clerk, he explained their phone rings constantly with questions.
 
“This was the winner,” Alexander said. “Where do I go for my driver’s license?”
 
Over the past six to eight months, he explained, a new question has started to come in.
 
“Whats goin’ on over at Chalybeate on that stretch? Am I eligible?”
 

The family of N.E. Reed poses with a special gift after receiving a plaque in "honor and remembrance" of N.E. at the annual Industrial Authority Award Banquet at Tayvin Gardens Thursday Dec. 15, 2022 in Chalybeate.

Despite the missing N.E., lumens, and guest speaker, Beverly performed the duty of de facto guest speaker when she shared a story from when N.E. first began his work for the County over three decades ago.
 
“I never dreamed he would get involved like he did,” Beverly said.
 
Beverly told how N.E. first worked as a teacher for year, and was on the school board and decided he would try to run for the judge executive seat.
 
“I don’t think either one of us had any idea of what a job it would be and what a commitment it would be,” she said. “But he enjoyed every minute of it. He really did.”

For the future of the young folks coming on and the people of Edmonson, he lived everyday to work for Edmonson County, she said.
 
He couldn’t have done it by himself, she said, and the team work Beverly witnessed over the decades reinforced what she already knew.
 
She said that he loved Edmonson County, she said.
 
“He would tell you it’s the people,” she said. “It’s the people.”