If there was a common theme among the award winners at last Tuesday’s Mineola Chamber of Commerce banquet, it was the incredible amount of time, energy and effort the recipients have poured back into their community to make it a better place.

From the native born to those more recent transplants, each has found a place, if not multiple places, to plug in to the community and assist with organizations, programs and projects whose aims are to make an already good place even better.

The man and woman of the year awards serve as remarkable examples.

Glen Dossett, the Mineola Rotary Club’s man of the year, has been around the community even a little longer than the award itself, which was begun in 1954.

Dossett graduated from Mineola High School and wrapped up a 50-year teaching career in agriculture at his alma mater in 2017, but that did not end his community service. He has continued to be a driving force behind the long-running Mineola Hay Show, whose proceeds benefit that same MHS ag department, and is serving on the Mineola School Board for his second term and is seeking a third.

As presenter Roy Shockey said, the man of the year award is not necessarily a lifetime achievement award. But in this case it marks a lifetime of achievement.

Shockey had to step aside for the woman of the year award, which is presented jointly by the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs after many years under the auspices of the Lions Club.

His wife, Beth, was the recipient.

A shorter list might be the one of organizations Shockey is not involved with. And not just involved, but customarily in a leadership role, whether Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, Mineola Caring and Sharing, Kindness Kottage, Salvation Army and Lake Country Playhouse.

Presenter Sam Curry described her as a tireless contributor. The Shockeys moved to the area nine years ago and were previously named the Pilot Club’s humanitarians of the year for 2023.

That award went this year to Misty Hooks, a previous woman of the year, whose resume looks a lot like Beth Shockey’s.

In addition to a leadership role with the Kiwanis Club – Sam Curry referred to her as the cheese queen as one of the club’s top salesmen – she can be found most places something is going on to benefit the community.

If there’s a parade in town, count on Misty to be one of the chief organizers. She has worked tirelessly for the Mineola Fire Department’s annual rodeo and assists with a variety of fundraising and community support projects through her work with her employer, City National Bank – blood drives, library bake sales, hamburger lunches.

Sam Curry was also on the podium for the awarding of the teacher of the year by the Kiwanis Club, Mineola Primary School kindergarten teacher Sylvia Harris.

Nominees also included Josh Burns, intermediate; Ashley Veach, middle school; and Christine Spofford, high school.

Harris has been in the classroom for more than 30 years and drew glowing accolades from fellow teachers in her nomination.

The B.R. Short community spirit award went to Justin Clower, another who can be found in a variety of roles, including volunteer fireman.

The community builder award was presented by the Mineola Masonic Lodge to Jeff Hurley, whose presence as Santa Claus during holiday events is among his numerous community activities, including a longtime supporter of the theater.

The Mineola Historical Museum was awarded the Lou Mallory Historic Preservation Award for its decades-long efforts to establish a museum in the former post office, which first opened in 1937 and closed in the 1990s.

Board members accepted the award in their Mardi Gras masks.

The Wayne Collins entrepreneur of the year award went to Kallie Malone of ETX Lemonade, and the volunteer of the year recognized the Mineola ISD athletic department, some of whose charges were assisting with the banquet and have offered aid throughout the year. Athletic Director Luke Blackwell accepted.

And the newcomer of the year was recognized as Mineola Feed and Seed’s new owner Justin Glasscock.