Rita Price Simpson and Tim Meyer were named the 2014 Woman and Man of the Year at the 103rd Annual Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Membership Dinner. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Rita Price Simpson and Tim Meyer were honored as the 2014 Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Woman and Man of the Year. The awards were presented at the 103rd Annual Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce membership dinner.

Price Simpson was the first woman basketball announcer in the state of Indiana and has been the only broadcaster to call every state girls’ championship, starting in 1976. She has also broadcasted every boys game since 1977.

She has a long list of accomplishments: president of Mentone Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Kosciusko County Foundation and on the women’s advisory committee for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. She has received numerous awards, many from sports related organizations and has been inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame.

“I really don’t know what to say,” said Price, “except it’s a tremendous honor. Of all the honors that you ever get, it’s most appreciated by people that you love … an opportunity to do what I love to do for over 50 years, an opportunity to get to know so many of you … So I really thank you very much for this great honor … No I’m not planning to retire as long as I have a voice I will try to be the voice of area sports.”

Meyer has given to the community to see it grow and prosper. His efforts to address issues and problems in the community continue to carry on today. In the late 1970’s he, his wife and another couple co-founded Heartline Pregnancy Center. He has served as a member of the Home Health Care and Hospice Finance Committee, past third degree Grand Knight and fourth degree Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus. He was instrumental in the development of Ivy Tech Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.

Meyer has also served on the Kosciusko YMCA Board, board of directors of the United Way of Kosciusko County, Warsaw Redevelopment Commission, board of directors of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation and two terms on the board for the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, serving as treasurer.

“I’m honored,” said Meyer, “I’ve been very fortunate and blessed to be a part of numerous organizations. I’ve developed a lot of great relationships professional and friendships over the year … I wold like to encourage all of you who have not yet done so, to get involved and enjoy and work with and become engaged with numerous non-profit organizations we have in the county.”

Recipients of other awards presented include:

• Marcia Erickson, Ambassador of the Year
• Emerson Poort, Young Adult Professional of the Year
• Martin’s Super Markets, Business Leadership Network Employer of the Year
• Sue Ann Mitchell, Government Excellence Award
• CenturyLink, Dimension of Excellence service Business
• Eagle Outdoor Sign Company, Dimension of Excellence Business
• Cerulean, Dimension of Excellence Entrepreneur Business
• Louis Dreyfus, Dimension of Excellence Industry Business

Mark Dobson, chamber president and chief executive officer, remarked this was a record year for the organization, highlighting accomplishments of the chamber and the desire to make the new chamber office on Buffalo Street a one-stop community and economic development center. The local chamber has been contacted by other chamber organizations on how they could be more like the local chamber including breaking records for event attendance and membership growth.

The guest speaker for the evening was Notre Dame Alumni and current ND Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick, Jr., who highlighted his role in putting Indianapolis on the map when it was a dying community.

Over 400 people attended the annual event.