Six deserving individuals and businesses were selected by the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce to receive Community Awards.
James Parkhurst, Dan Hartwell, Dan Balsley, Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty, the Collier family and the Khoury Dental Center will all be honored at the chamber’s annual awards banquet 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at Oxford Hills Golf and Country Club.
The winners were nominated by various community members and selected by a Chamber committee.
Presenting this year’s Community Award winners:
Citizen of the Year:
James Parkhurst
How fitting that James Parkhurst, a self-described ‘hometown boy? whose family was among the original settlers of the Oxford area, should be named ‘Citizen of the Year.?
‘I’d like to thank the community and the Oxford (Area) Chamber of Commerce for selecting me,? he said.
Parkhurst, a 1965 Oxford High School graduate, was nominated and chosen to receive this honor because of his tireless involvement in the community through American Legion Post 108, of which he’s been a member for 17 years and is a past post commander.
‘It’s my way to give back to our community,? he said. ‘I look at it this way ? what you give out, you get back 10 times fold.?
In 1994, Parkhurst founded a military museum at the Legion, which plays, among other things, 160 military uniforms from the Civil War to Desert Storm, from American and Australian to German and Japanese.
‘It’s the second largest collection in the state and is always free to look at,? he said with pride.
The majority of the uniforms and artifacts were donated by area residents and families. ‘The history of Oxford and Orion is in these showcases,? Parkhurst said.
Parkhurst continues to serve as the museum’s curator and tour guide. He estimated about 1,000 school children visit the museum every year in addition to church and senior citizen groups. Last fall, he spent an entire day giving tours to 350 Oxford High School students.
In addition to making history come alive for students, Parkhurst said the museum helps teach them about the sacrifices American soldiers made for the liberties they enjoy today and instill in them a sense of patriotism.
Preserving history, honoring soldiers? sacrifices and promoting patriotism have motivated Parkhurst to play an instrumental role in many local projects over the years.
Downtown Oxford’s ‘Avenue of Flags? ? rows of American flags which line Washington Street on major holidays such a Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Fourth of July ? was initiated by Parkhurst and fellow Legion member Walt Joslin.
Most recently, Parkhurst has worked diligently to have a statue of a combat soldier placed in Centennial Park along with the names of the 43 Oxford servicemen who gave their lives fighting in America’s wars.
‘We don’t want to forget what these people did,? he said.
Parkhurst is extremely proud of the community service Legion Post 108 continually provides by awarding $3,000 worth of scholarships to graduating high school seniors, building wheelchair ramps for local disabled veterans, sponsoring Boy Scout Troop 108 and Cub Scout Pack 44 and helping needy families during the Christmas season.
While he’s ‘very happy? he was selected to be ‘Citizen of the Year,? Parkhurst more pleased about the publicity his award will bring to American Legion Post 108.
‘It’s a great promotional thing for the Legion because people will learn more about what we do down here,? he said.
Young Person of the Year:
Dan Hartwell
A sophomore at Oxford High School, Dan Hartwell isn’t your typical teenager. That’s why Hank Szlenkier, caseworker for Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance (OAYA), nominated him for this honor.
‘Dan’s one of those unsung heroes,? Szlenkier said. ‘He’s destined for important things in the future.?
Since he was a sixth-grader, Hartwell has volunteered his time and leadership skills helping OAYA.
Hartwell has been ‘extremely instrumental? in accomplishing Youth Assistance projects such as the Haunted House fund-raiser (October 2003), Children’s Community Garden (which provides vegetables for local needy individuals and seniors), and building the group’s annual Christmas parade float.
When the time came to move OAYA’s office from the old high school to the new high school, Hartwell saved taxpayer dollars and Szlenkier’s back by organizing a group of volunteers to do the job.
Hartwell’s commitment to Youth Assistance is so deep and his leadership skills and maturity level so impressive, Szlenkier invited him to sit on the group’s board of directors.
‘I have to look high and low to find a student that’s willing and capable of fitting into that adult role,? said Szlenkier, noting that Hartwell is ‘mature beyond his years, serious, compassionate? and ‘very eager to get involved.?
Szlenkier said the OAYA Board of Directors has been without a student/youth representative for about three years.
‘It takes certain kind of youth to be able to shoulder that kind of adult responsibility,? he said. ‘It takes someone who can listen, focus, understand and give input. Dan’s that person.?
‘It made me feel really proud,? said Hartwell of his award.
When asked why he’s so involved with Youth Assistance, Hartwell said, ‘If someone needs help and you don’t help them, then it’s your problem too because you’re letting it happen.?
Hartwell said he derives a feeling of personal ‘satisfaction? from helping others and being a part of the solution to their problems.
‘I try to help everyone I can,? he said.
Adult Youth Volunteer: Dan Balsley
For 24 years, Oxford High School Auto Technology instructor Dan Balsley has been using cars to give young people direction in life and boost their self confidence. He never expected to get an award for it.
‘This is a flattering surprise,? Balsley said. ‘I had no idea I had been nominated.?
Whether it’s tearing apart an engine in the classroom or helping students restore a classic car after school, Balsley has dedicated countless hours to helping young people learn about cars and most importantly, themselves.
In 1997, Balsley voluntarily started the OHS Auto Club as an after-school activity. When looking for members, he advertised the new club’s purpose as to repair and restore a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere donated by a resident.
Eight years later, the restoration isn’t complete.
‘I actually don’t have any intention of finishing the project because I’m using that as a point of interest,? he said.
Balsley said the club is ‘more than just the car, it’s a place for kids with similar interests to go.?
The club is especially important for those ‘overlooked? students who don’t fit in with traditional extra-curricular activities such as sports, band or drama.
‘It’s filling a niche for those kids who want to feel a sense of belonging and identity, but don’t have any other place to go . . . who don’t identify with school or another club,? Balsley said. ‘We’re a place for people to go if you live cars, if you have pictures of cars hanging on your bedroom walls. If you think cars and dream cars, this is a place to hang out and talk with people.?
When they’re not working on the 1976 Belvedere, the Auto Club regularly takes field trips to museums like the Henry Ford and Walter B. Chrysler, and travels to swap meets and junk yards in search of auto parts.
Even after teaching for 24 years (19 in Oxford), Balsley said he’s still ‘very passionate? and ‘very idealistic? about his job and helping young people ‘realize they have a purpose and self-worth.?
‘It’s the most meaningful thing I believe I could do with my life,? he said. ‘I can’t think of a job that would impact more people and hopefully make a positive influence on their lives than teaching.?
Just last week at a conference, Balsley said he ran into the high school teacher who inspired him to become an educator. While speaking with his mentor and thanking him, Balsley said a former student of his walked up and thanked him for inspiring him to become a teacher.
‘There we were, three generations,? Balsley said. ‘It was very gratifying.?
Community Enhancement: Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty
In December 2004, Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty opened the doors to its new office building at 110 S. Washingston St. in the Village of Oxford.
The beautiful two-story, 9,700-square-foot facility looks more like a welcoming home than a typical office building. The pitched roof and brick facade make the real estate office look warm and inviting, and blend well with the surrounding village atmosphere.
‘We’ve been in Oxford for close to 35 years, so we take a lot of pride in the community and our appearance,? said General Manager Chris Hendrix.
Hendrix said the building is meant to exude an ‘image of professionalism and pride.?
Broker Donni Steele said the new building is meant to be a ‘reflection of what the people inside are like.?
‘Our old building didn’t do that. Our new one looks like us,? Steele said.
Business Person of the Year: The Collier Family
Congratulations to Jeff Collier for winning business person of the year by the Oxford Chamber of Commerce.
The Collier family has been in the bowling business for 56 years and has owned Collier Lanes for 45 years.
Collier has been selected to win the award for his business? constant contribution to the community.
‘We do a lot of fundraisers for the schools and things like that,? Collier said.
Collier’s wife, Kim, also said the bowling alley has been adopting needy families every holiday for the past five years. These families get to go bowling, have a lunch, receive toys from Santa and decorate Christmas cookies.
There’s only one word the Colliers can use to describe their feelings of winning this award ? ‘honored.?
New Business of the Year:
Khoury Dental Center
Dr. John Khoury didn’t waste any time getting involved in his new community when he opened up his first cosmetic and family dental practice at 352 N. Lapeer Road (across from the POH Medical Center) in August 2004.
The Lake Orion native and current Oakland Township resident ‘immediately jumped into being an active part of the community,? according to the Chamber.
Khoury volunteered his dental skills for the Chamber of Commerce Women’s Expo in October 2004. One of the lucky ladies who won a ‘Magical Makeover? received a free teeth whitening and some free filling replacements, all courtesy of the good doctor.
Then in December, Khoury volunteered to help judge the Chamber’s annual Christmas parade.
In February, Khoury donated some time to Little Scholars of Oxford to educate the preschoolers about the importance of brushing their teeth and maintaining good dental health.
‘I’m always looking for different ways to help out,? Khoury said. ‘We’re getting out there and just trying to get to know everybody in Oxford.?
Being honored as New Business of the Year came as quite a surprise to Khoury.
‘I had no idea there was an award for this,? the doctor said. ‘I had no idea that anybody really knew about us . . . This means a lot.?
Staff Writer Casey Curtis contributed to this story.