 2005 - MENSEL D. DEAN
2004 - PAUL C. SHELOR
2003 - NATHAN H. TANNER, JR.
2002 - ROBERT E. PLECKER, HARRISONBURG
2001 - A.W. "JUNE" HORTON, JR., RICHLANDS
2000 - ZANE D. SHOWKER, HARRISONBURG
2005 - MENSEL D. DEAN
Mensel D. Dean served in the US Army during the Vietnam era and is currently a partner in the accounting firm of PBGH, LLP in Harrisonburg. Since 2001, Mr. Dean has been recognized by Virginia Business magazine and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants as a Super CPA, a recognition bestowed on a select number of practitioners in the service areas of small business consulting and government and not-for-profit.
Not only has Mr. Dean built a successful business, but through the years he has also supported many community organizations and projects. Mr. Dean serves on the Board of Directors of Rockingham Memorial Hospital and Rockingham Heritage Bank. He has also served on the boards of the Blue Ridge Community College Foundation, Bridgewater Retirement Community and Friendship Industries.
Mr. Dean is a decorated veteran, a distinguished business owner and a devoted and dedicated citizen of the Shenandoah Valley and the Commonwealth. He truly represents the spirit of the Small Business Veteran of the Year.
Back to top
2004 - PAUL C. SHELOR
Mr. Shelor owns Shelor, Inc. a family-owned general contracting business located in Dublin. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946 as a radio operator in the Pacific Theatre. In 1946, he was honorably discharged and he returned to the Virginia and joined the Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.
After his start with the Chicago construction firm Bates and Rogers, Paul joined Wasser, Trinkle and Dobyns in Dublin in 1963. In 1975, Paul and Richard DeBusk formed DeBusk and Shelor, Inc. which is now simply Shelor, Inc. Mr. Shelor manages the firm together with his wife Helen and his sons Donald and Patrick.
Throughout his career, Mr. Shelor has contributed to the New River Valley community in many ways—his firm employed up to 50 people and was involved in significant projects at Radford University, VA Tech, local public schools and the airport. Mr. Shelor has been an active member of the Pulaski Chamber of Commerce, his church and professional organizations.
Mr. Shelor is a veteran, a distinguished business owner and a devoted and dedicated citizen of Virginia. He truly represents the spirit of the Small Business Veteran of the Year.
Back to top
2003 - NATHAN H. TANNER, JR.
Nathan H. Tanner, Jr. has served his country and his community. As a young man, he chose to serve his country over completing his college degree by enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942.
After the war, it took Mr. Tanner only six years to rise from the position of sales trainee to vice president to general manager of a large corporation, Swartz Enterprises. He later purchased and headed one of the organization’s companies—Roanoke Photo Finishing. In 1984, Mr. Tanner was one of the founders of Photo USA and now his son Tom is president.
Rather than take time off for retirement, Mr. Tanner chose to continue to serve small business and his community. He has served as a volunteer counselor for SCORE, is an active member of Raleigh Court United Methodist Church, served as president of an Eighth Air Force Group and he is sits on the boards of many other organizations.
Mr. Tanner is a decorated veteran, a distinguished business owner and a devoted and dedicated citizen of Virginia. He truly represents the spirit of the Small Business Veteran of the Year.
Back to top
2002 - ROBERT E. PLECKER, HARRISONBURG
Robert E. Plecker has served his country and his community. Mr. Plecker served in the US Army from 1942-1947 and he rose to the rank of Captain. He was a platoon leader to the 502nd Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Europe during WWII. After the war he became Company Commander of Company B, 502nd Parachute Infantry.
Mr. Plecker was awarded the Order of Leopold with Palm and Croix de Geurre with Palm by the Belgian government in 1945 for "Meritorious Achievement in the Battle of Bastogne".
He also received the Distinguished Unit Badge, American Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal in 1947 for "Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations".
Mr. Plecker returned to Virginia after his military service and attended Shenandoah University, Bridgewater College, and the University of Virginia. He then embarked on an ambitious and successful career as a business owner and currently owns and manages four transportation businesses in the Shenandoah Valley. In 1997, he sold his first company, Truck and Equipment, to the company employees through an employee stock ownership plan. Mr. Plecker is more than a successful entrepreneur--he is an inspiration and role model to employees, business leaders, and the community.
Not only has Mr. Plecker built successful businesses, but through the years he has also generously supported many community organizations and projects. Mr. Plecker’s recent gift to Blue Ridge Community College supported the establishment of the Workforce Center, a facility that will house the Center for Training and Development along with classroom and meeting space. In his honor, the Center has been named the Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center.
Mr. Plecker is a decorated veteran, a distinguished business owner and a devoted and dedicated citizen of Virginia. He truly represents the spirit of the Small Business Veteran of the Year.
Back to top
2001 - A.W. "JUNE" HORTON, JR., RICHLANDS
Mr. Horton is an excellent example of how veterans continue to serve their country and state long after their military service is over. In 1936, Horton earned his first job with McCall’s store in Raven, a small town in southwest Virginia. He was then drafted into the U.S.Army in 1941 and served in the 29th Division 116th Infantry Division, Company K. Horton participated in the Normandy Invasion on D-Day and received a Purple Heart Medal for his injuries. After just over
four years of military service, he was honorably discharged and returned home. He became manager of the Raven Super Market, and in the 1970s, the Horton family purchased the market and established an affiliation with True Value Hardware. Horton continues to work in the store today with his son, Rocky.
The Raven Super Market carries inventory reminiscent of the general merchandise store common in decades past - groceries, hardware, home and garden supplies, even clothing. The folksy establishment still uses the honor system for grocery check out--a practice unheard of today. Horton keeps a running log of purchases, and customers can reimburse him on pay day.
"Veterans serve as excellent role models for future generations to come," added DBA's Director, Charlie H. Mills. "The Small Business Veteran of the Year Program brings much-deserved attention to the achievement and sacrifices that these individuals have made in communities throughout Virginia. I am proud that the Commonwealth.s SBDC program was the first in the nation to recognize our veterans in such a manner."
"It was an honor to present Mr. Horton with this year's award," said Jim Boyd,Director of the Southwest SBDC and Chairman of the Veteran.s Award. "He is so loved and respected---he is a cornerstone of our community." Horton’s letter to his wife during the war and excerpts from his personal diary have been the subject of feature articles in the local media. He has a very compelling life story, both as an entrepreneur and as a soldier.
Back to top
2000 - ZANE D. SHOWKER, HARRISONBURG
Zane Showker, Chairman Emeritus of SYSCO Food Services, in Harrisonburg, was named the Virginia Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) first annual Small Business Veteran of the Year.
Back to top
|
