Living Large - September 2016

Welcome to our community's Hall O' Fame, where you'll find individuals, businesses and local communities who have made the news in the past month.  This month, kudos go to:  Myron Labat, Dusty Rhodes, and Trent Favre.
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If you know a local who belongs on this page because of recent recognition, email info to our publisher.

More Shoofly Stories

Myron Labat (center, holding award), 2016 Citizen of the Year, with other Chamber gala honorees.

Myron Labat Named Hancock County Citizen of the Year

Nearly 500 business and governmental leaders gathered at the 38th Annual Hancock Chamber Business & Industry Awards Gala on August 25 at Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis.  The event recognizes exceptional residents and businesses, including the year's 10 Outstanding Citizens, one of whom is named Citizen of the Year with great surprise and fanfare.  This year, the winner was retired educator and administrator, Mryon Labat.

 Complete list of 2016 Outstanding Citizens and Businesses of the Year. 

Now retired, Myron, a former coach, teacher, principal and school administrator of the Bay-Waveland School District, is passionate about his volunteer work with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the Hancock Medical Center Foundation. As president of the Foundation board for the past three years, he is an ambassador for the hospital, raising money for state of the art medical equipment to serve the health care needs of the community. 

An active member of the St. Rose de Lima Church, he spends most of his free time helping children, and promoting health and exercise through the Bay Rollers Cycling Club.  As president of the Club, he has made trips all over the region, often raising money for charity.  In the past two years alone, the group has bought 77 bikes for children. 

Labat says his volunteer work is his way of giving back.

Also receiving special recognition at the event:

• The Hancock County Tourism Development Commission selects the recipient of the Patt Cucullu Tourism Industry Person of the Year sponsored by the Chamber.    This year, John Ferrucci of the Silver Slipper Casino & Hotel was recognized with the major contributions he has made to enhance the tourism industry.

• The Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission presented the prestigious Annual Industrial Award of Excellence to three commands representing the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) at Stennis Space Center.  Accepting the award for NAVSCIATTS (Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School) was Lieutenant Commander Kerry Jackson.   Lieutenant Commander Chad Kalocinski was presented the award on behalf of Special Boat Team 22;  and, Mike Rushing received the award for NSW Group Four Training Detachment South.

• This year, the Chamber also presented the Krewe of Nereids with the coveted Community Award of Excellence.  Nereids is the oldest all-female carnival association on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, established 50 years ago by women business leaders in Waveland. ​

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Dusty Rhodes Honoree at Moonlight on the Bay 

The Hancock Medical Center Foundation will honor retired bank executive Charley E. “Dusty” Rhodes at its 20th Annual Moonlight on the Bay Gala, Friday, Sept. 23, in the ballroom at Hollywood Casino.

A native of Bay St. Louis, Rhodes graduated from St. Stanislaus in 1964 where he played baseball and football. He attended Pearl River Community College and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from USM.  He recently retired after a 45-year banking career on the coast. Rhodes  served 27 years on the Hancock Medical Board of Trustees.  In 2009, he was named a Hancock Chamber Outstanding Citizen. A devoted family man, Rhodes and his wife of 47 years Mimi have three children – sons Rocky, Brandon and Jeffery and five grandchildren. 

The Moonlight on the Bay gala is hosted by the Hancock Medical Center Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to assist the hospital with services like mammography assistance and for the purchase of equipment and technology. For full details, click here. To reserve seats or to donate a silent auction item, call Foundation Development Director Tom Carlton at 228-467-8790.

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Trent Favre Named New Bay St. Louis Attorney

At a recessed meeting on August 25, Mayor Fillingame recommended that  the city council accept Trent Favre as the new city attorney, which they did in a unanimous vote.  Favre is a member of Gulfport's Jones-Walker firm.  

The council had had time to review Favre's qualifications before the meeting and there was no discussion.  Ward 4 Councilman Bobby Compretta made to motion to accept and Ward 3 Councilman Jeffrey Reed seconded.  Councilmen Mike Favre  and Joey Boudin voted to accept (Seal, McDonald and Falgout were absent).  

The meeting was streamed live over Facebook, where comments seemed as unanimous as the the vote.  "Awesome choice!" and "Wonderful pick!" seemed the order of the day.  

According to Jones-Walker firm's website: 

Trent Favre is a member of the firm's Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group and practices from the firm's Gulfport office. He has experience in healthcare law, governmental law, and commercial litigation and works with state and county organizations, including state-funded medical centers, E-911 agencies, and economic and land development agencies. Mr. Favre has experience litigating disputes for engineering firms, contractors, real estate developers, insurance companies, and mortgage lenders.

To read more about Trent Favre's experience, click here. 

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