VIDALIA &045; &uot;An inspiration.&uot;

&uot;One of the best friends.&uot;

&uot;Interested in the chance to serve.&uot;

&uot;Extremely high integrity.&uot;

&uot;Had a major role in bringing the parish as far as possible.&uot;

&uot;A prince of a gentleman.&uot;

That was just a sample of the kind words people who knew Fred Falkenheiner had to say about him when he was chosen as The Natchez Democrat’s Citizen of the Year in 2000.

And it was for those qualities that Falkenheiner was honored again Tuesday night &045; this time, as Vidalian of the Year during the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.

&uot;He has given a lifetime of service (in ways) too numerous to mention,&uot; chamber official Jan Simpson said in presenting the honor to Falkenheiner during the event, held at Comfort Suites.

&uot;Thanks a million. I’m overwhelmed and surprised,&uot; Falkenheiner said. &uot;This is an extreme honor, and I’ll never forget it.&uot;

Simpson had to notify Falkenheiner, who started his battle with cancer in 1997, of the award by telephone, with Falkenheiner’s comments broadcast via speakerphone.

&uot;You have a standing audience,&uot; Simpson told Falkenheiner, referring to the scores of people who stood with sustained applause when his name was announced.

They’ve known him for a long time, in many roles. Falkenheiner served on the Concordia Parish Police Jury for 30 years, 12 as its president, until December 1999, when he decided not to run again due to health reasons.

Falkenheiner, a veteran, has served the community as a member of the Lions Club and Kiwanis and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes. He worked for Louisiana Central Bank, now Delta Bank, from 1981 until his retirement in 2003.

But to hear Falkenheiner tell it, he’s the one who owes his fellow Vidalians a debt of gratitude, starting with his wife, Phyllis.

She and his children, Falkenheiner said, &uot;dealt with me not being here for 30 years at suppertime. Š But I’m indebted to so many people.&uot;

Falkenheiner’s son, Lee, also thanked the audience for honoring his father.

Falkenheiner wasn’t the only honoree, with several others taking home awards, including:

4Bowie Business of the Year Concordia Bank & Trust, which was recognized for its community involvement. Its community projects have included supporting everything from schools to Relay for Life to the Natchez Festival of Music to the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race.

4Businessperson of Year Patricia Anderson, who has worked for more than 20 years for Concordia Bank. She has served with several causes, including the March of Dimes steering committee and the Jim Bowie Festival committee.

4Educator of the Year Dr. Kerry Laster, superintendent of Concordia Parish public schools, who had 30 years of previous experience as a teacher and principal. She was described as having high expectations for students and faculty and encouraging them to think outside the box.

4Hospitality Award winner Marjorie Bowman, a chamber volunteer for nine years. Bowman, who has worked for the Concordia Council on Aging for more than 20 years, is president of the Concordia Garden Club, has also served with the Vidalia Civic League, the parish’s Drug Prevention Committee, the Vidalia Beautification Committee and several other organizations.

The dinner’s theme, &uot;Sportsman’s Paradise,&uot; referred to the hunting and fishing industry, a multi-million-dollar industry in both Louisiana and Mississippi.

In keeping with the theme, keynote speaker Walter &uot;Bubby&uot; Brister passed along stories of his love of hunting to those in attendance.

Brister, a northeast Louisiana native and former quarterback known for his 15 years in the NFL, now appears in hunting videos for Hunter’s Specialties.

But he said his love of the outdoors started when, as a young boy, he would go to hunting trips with his grandfather. Now, he takes both his father and son along on his trips into the woods.

&uot;We do live in a sportman’s paradise,&uot; Brister said. &uot;And we do take it for granted.&uot;