The William D. Pettway Jr. Memorial Leadership Award is the YMCA’s most prestigious award, given to the past or present board member who exemplifies leadership and dedication to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga. For 2009, the award was presented on Tuesday to Pat Conroy, who has been a member of the YMCA for over 35 years and has served in several Y Leadership roles during that time.
The award was presented at the YMCA’s 138th Annual Meeting at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Crystal Ballroom. Now celebrating 139 years of service in Chattanooga, the Y is the city’s oldest social service organization. The YMCA is a not-for-profit organization which is volunteer-led and community-based.
After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1974, Mr. Conroy returned to Chattanooga and worked in the oil industry, specializing in industrial sales. During that time he served as sales manager for General Oils – a division of Ashland Oil Company.
In 1984 he purchased Holston Energy, Inc., at which time he became affiliated with JAT Oil as its owner and manager. JAT Oil has operated in the southeastern market for over 30 years and has annual sales of more than 60 million gallons of petroleum products.
Mr. Conroy has served as the board chairman at YMCA Camp Ocoee and served on the YMCA Metropolitan board of directors for over 27 years, and he is a member of the YMCA Heritage Club. In 2007 Mr. Conroy joined the YMCA Christian Emphasis Committee, which established the annual YMCA Community Prayer Luncheon.
Chairs of each YMCA branch Strong Kids Annual Fund Campaign were also recognized along with outgoing branch board chairs.
“We wish we could recognize every individual who volunteered for the Y in 2009. It’s impossible to measure the vast impact that they have,” said Randy A, Brown, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga. “We estimate that volunteers in our various programs and on our boards donated approximately 13,000 hours to the Y last year. Without those volunteers, the YMCA simply would not exist.”
Other awards presented at the luncheon meeting included:
Volunteer of the Year Awards 2009
Pat Neuhoff – Downtown Family YMCA
Charlie MacKay – North River Family YMCA and Aquatic Center
Jean Wiseman – Hamilton Family YMCA
Ron Powell – North Georgia Family YMCA Camp Ocoee
Janice Ramierz – Camp Ocoee
Joe Brown – J.A. Henry Family YMCA
Harlan White (awarded posthumously) – Cleveland Family YMCA
Chris Horton –Rhea Family YMCA
Service to Youth Awards
Barbara Marter - Camp Holder Collegiate Christian Leadership Awards 2009
Kelley Brown – Downtown Family YMCA
Mary Kroll – North River Family YMCA and Aquatic Center
Lauren Stephenson – Hamilton Family YMCA North Georgia
Paige Daniels – North Georgia Family YMCA
Jenny Korwin – Camp Ocoee
Holly Bridges – J.A. Henry Family YMCA
Rhonda Torbett – Cleveland Family YMCA
Cortney Edwards – Rhea Family YMCA
Special Service Awards to Retiring Board Members
Joe Romanchik
Dave Fitzke
Shawn Rogers
Cindy Horton
Geoff Young
Randy A. Brown, president and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, Geoffrey G. Young, Chief Volunteer Officer (Board Chair) for 2008-2009, Mike Berry, incoming Chief Volunteer Officer (Board Chair) for 2010-2011.