Ray Durbin, Mike Stoyonovich, Lisa Whobrey Honored With Citizen of the Year Awards At Annual Chamber Dinner

2020 and 2021 Awards Combined at This Year's Event

Ray Durbin (left) accepts 2021-Co-Citizen of the Year Award from Darren Doyle, at the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
After a cancelled awards dinner last year due to the COVID pandemic, The Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce held its annual event on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at the Heritage Centre in Brownsville. The chamber combined the awards for 2020 and 2021 at the annual event.

Sharing honors for Citizen of the Year Award were two Vietnam veterans that are heavily involved in their communities. Receiving Co-Citizen of the Year were Ray Durbin of Sunfish and Mike Stoyonovich of Brownsville.

Mike Stoyonovich accepts Co-Citizen of the Year Award from Darren Doyle.

The awards were presented by newly elected Chamber board member Darren Doyle.

Durbin, a volunteer at South Edmonson Elementary who stays heavily active in veteran programs and activities, wasn't sure if he'd be able to attend because of potential scheduling conflict Thursday night. That conflict was an appointment he had made to pick up donuts he had purchased to give away to all the teachers and staff at South Edmonson on Friday morning--all the more reason Durbin was chosen for the award.

Stoyonovich's current role is as a service officer for local DAV Chapter 32, were he has secured over $1 million in benefits to veterans in the Edmonson County area. In addition, he serves on a number of volunteer committees in Edmonson County and the surrounding area.

Lisa Whobrey accepts her 2020 Citizen of the Year award from Darren Doyle.

Receiving 2020's Citizen of the Year award was Lisa Whobrey, Community Education Director for Edmonson County.

She is the coordinator of the annual Cram The Cruiser Event in Edmonson County, a school supply drive for EC students. This past year's event saw another record-breaking year, with over $5,000 worth of cash and supplies that will be distributed throughout the school district for any student that has a supply need.

A Plus Family Healthcare and The Edmonson Voice won Business of they Year awards for 2020 and 2021, and Preserving Edmonson Pride and Creations by Ashlee and Tracy were also honored with service and business awards.