Each community has them. Those special individuals that don’t live in the community, they are its lifeline, driving progress and involvement, integrating every part of their lives into bettering the community in which they live. Carbon County is lucky to have multiple individuals that fill this role, two of which were honored at the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce’s annual installation banquet last week.
First to receive thanks from the chamber and community members was Richard Tatton. Tatton has been involved not only in the chamber, in which his membership stems back to 1975, but also throughout local organizations and clubs as well as his business.
“Age proves to be just a number for our Community Service Award Winner,” the chamber shared. “There is never a community service project that this person turns down when asked to be involved in. He has shown to be young at heart and is always showing the community what matters most.”
Tatton has been a member of the CCCC since 1975 and is a past member of the Carbon/Emery Motorcycle Association, Buzzards Motorcycle Club, Sageriders, the Motorcycle Club, and serves as a stalwart bar-tender at the annual Oktoberfest. He is an active member of the local Kiwanis Club and has served as a Loyal Knight of the local BPOE Elks as well as served on the Carbon County School Board around 1990. He currently serves as Chairman of both the PRWID Board and Carbon County’s Planning & Zoning board and has done so for over 30 years.
“He ‘retired’ a few years ago from his own business with Tatton Insurance only to find himself busier than ever in the community,” the chamber said. “If he is called upon to serve or help, he rarely ever says ‘no’ or ‘I’m too busy’ and definitely never uses ‘I’m too old’ an excuse to get out of service. That is an exceptional quality and Carbon County is extremely blessed to have him.”
Tatton is not the only member of the community that has stepped up to the plate, though. Also honored at the event was the outstanding board member of the year, Jana Hopes.
While being a business owner as well as a full-time mother to four daughters, Hopes provides a constant presence at chamber events and meetings as well as work behind the scenes.
“Designing and printing the monthly events calendar, making appearances at almost every chamber ribbon cutting as well as serving as the Director for Carbon County Chamber of Commerce’s Marketing Committee has kept (Jana) very busy,” the chamber shared. “She recognizes that her role on the Chamber Board provides a vital service for our community.”
Hopes has also stayed busy with the recent location of her business, Carbon Copy, to a new location as well as assisting her husband in his political campaign. On top of this, Hopes finds time to work closely with the young women in her church congregation.
“We are so grateful for her continued support and outstanding service to the chamber,” said chamber members.
