2025 Leadership Texarkana Lunch with Leaders
Leadership Texarkana celebrated local excellence in community leadership at their 16th annual Lunch with Leaders at the Texarkana, Texas Convention Center on April 22, 2025. Awards for the the organization’s Leader of the Year and annual Wilbur Awards were presented. Texarkana Emergency Center and Hospital sponsored the luncheon, featuring special guest Jerry Keeney of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. Mr. Keeney was joined by Rob Sitterley, President & CEO of AR-TX REDI, and Dr. Jenny Walker, incoming Executive Director of Leadership Texarkana, for a discussion highlighting all the ways "Texarkana Gets It."
Leadership Texarkana Executive Director Ruth Ellen Whitt spoke to the motivation of the organization’s annual awards program, quoting Albert Schweitzer, who said, "Example is not the main thing, it is the only thing."
The Leader of the Year Award is the highest award given by Leadership Texarkana annually to honor outstanding graduates of the Leadership Texarkana program; it is given in memory of Idalee Raffaelli Hawkins, who set a lasting and inspirational example for her willingness to serve our community. This year’s Leader of the Year was presented to Don Morriss, President of Offenhauser & Co., in recognition of his extraordinary and longstanding commitment to community leadership and service across the Texarkana region.
Leadership Texarkana’s Wilbur Awards have been given annually since 1992 in memory of community servant and historian Wilbur Smith. Celebrating the power of one to impact our community positively, the Wilbur Awards are given in three categories: honoring adults, youth, and organizations who demonstrate exemplary leadership in the community and a commitment to working together for community excellence.
Wilbur Award for Organization—Texarkana College
Wilbur Award for Adult—James Bramlett
Wilbur Youth Award—Kaylynn Sharp
Leadership Texarkana is committed to fostering community excellence by providing a leadership voice of possibility and responsibility and by developing citizens who are willing and able to make a difference of significance as community leaders. It is committed to engaging and equipping citizens throughout our community as leaders working together for community excellence, pride, and progress. For more about Leadership Texarkana, visit leadershiptexarkana.com.
