Story By John Mann
The Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce celebrated 88 years of operations on Thursday as they hosted their annual dinner and awards banquet at City Harbor, recognizing several members of the community and welcoming a new chairman.
One of the highlight moments of the evening was the Citizen of the Year Award, which was presented to lifelong Guntersville resident Doris Stewart Vaughn.
“I’m truly grateful and humbled to be selected for this honor,” Vaughn said. “When I learned of the criteria used for selection, which included community involvement, leadership and service, positive impact and dedication I guess I was fortunate enough to check all the boxes. Throughout my life whether through education, community organizations, church or civic service I simply try to do my part to make our community a little better. The truth is there are many people who work quietly every day making a difference and I share this recognition with all of you.”
Vaughn was a 1972 graduate of Guntersville High School who devoted her entire professional career to the Guntersville City Board of Education, serving as a teacher in the Career and Technical Department for twenty-seven years. Today she serves as the Treasurer for the Lakeview Community Civic Organization, which has expanded greatly under her direction and now operates out of the Guntersville Rec Center.
There were three other awards presented during the dinner, starting with Educator of the Year which went to Guntersville Elementary School teacher Morgan O’Dell. O’Dell has been teaching at GES for nine years now, and in 2019 was recognized as the school’s Teacher of the Year. Like Vaughn, O’Dell is also a graduate of Guntersville High School, graduating in 2012.
Business of the Year was awarded to a long serving Guntersville staple, that being Steamline Cleaners. Steamline opened its doors all the way back in 1970 under the ownership of Powell and Nell Rains at the corner of Gunter and Ringold. Today the business is owned by the couple’s daughter and son-in-law Lou Ann Rains Patton and Scott Patton, who have greatly expanded the business to now include a second location in neighboring Albertville.
The final award for the evening was the Chair’s Cup, which was presented to Chairman of the Guntersville Water Board Frank J. “Rick” Richter. Richter has served the water for the past thirty-two years, helping to implement a system for analyzing wastewater to provide early warnings for emerging health concerns. Outgoing Chamber of Commerce Chair Bay Chandler describes Richter as “my boss, mentor, friend and sometimes adjunct father.”
One other piece of business for the dinner was the passing of the gavel from 2025 Chamber Chair Bay Chandler to incoming Chair John Davis Rollings, who has now officially taken over the role.
“I’m truly honored to stand before you as the 2026 Chairman of the Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce,” Rollings said. “Assuming a role previously held by many distinguished individuals, including my own father.”
More information about the Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce can be found on their website at lakeguntersville.org or by visiting their welcome center at 200 Gunter Avenue.
