Orange Beach Citizens & Employees Recognized For Their Contributions

2016 Orange Beach Employee of the Year Nominees

The City of Orange Beach recognized Nicole Woerner of the city’s Environmental & Engineering Dept. with its 2016 Employee of the Year award during a July City of Orange Beach and Community Center Association sponsord potluck Night of Recognition. Other Orange Beach employees receiving special recognition for their dedicated work included Ja Neese of Parks & Rec/Public Works, Jonathon Langston of Parks & Rec, Chris Conway of Public Works, Jeanne Fitzgibbons of Parks & Rec, Sandra Wyatt of Public Works, Felix Revuelta of Public Works/Finance, Janie Joiner of Community Development, Nate McMillan of Sewer, Christy Palmer of Court, Chuck Smith of Community Development and Paulette Taylor of Community Development. Orange Beach Police and Fire Dept. employees will ge recognized during the November Orange Beach Community Center potluck.

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2016 Orange Beach Citizen Awards Nominees

Ralph & Judy Moore – Ralph serves on the O.B. Planning Commission, and he and Judy are very active in all things concerning the Bear Point Civic Assn. The self proclaimed mayor of Bear Point, Ralph still calls the numbers during the weekly bingo sessions at the group’s Bay La Launch Ave. meeting hall every week.
Mike O’Rourke – Mr. Wisconsin, Mike organizes community potlucks for snowbirds, is active at City Council meetings and is the city’s liaison with the Wisconsin Snowbird Club.
Linda Tucker – An Orange Beach Library volunteer and organizer of the library’s successful book sale every year, Linda also runs the polls in the city during elections and is active in the Orange Beach Community Center Association. “
Jenna Bulman – The local pharmacist and mother spearheaded the drive to make the first ever state recognized PreK program at Orange Beach Elementary School.
Pam Jeffries – The president of Friends of Orange Beach Arts, Pam also organizes the Toys for Boys and Girls Christmas Program in the city.
Lee and Jane Rodgers – Lee and Jane are extremely active with the Orange Beach Sports Association, and are also huge supporters of Chris Litton’s City of Orange Beach hunting and shooting sports programs.
Brian and Jodi Harsany – Owners of three Orange Beach restaurants – Cosmos, Cobalt and Lunas, Brian and Jodie are huge supporters of city employees and city functions through their businesses. They also partner with Orange Beach – Gulf Shores Sports Commission on their events and serves as honorary coaches during the NAIA National Soccer Championship at the O.B. Sportsplex. “They are a perfect example of what American capitalism is all about,’’ O.B. Mayor Tony Kennon said. “These guys are always looking for ways to share. They are exactly what I hope every business in town ascribes to be.’’
y are ), Sponsors City facility needs like pavilions at Sportsplex.
John Davis – Also the person who ran the concession stand for the OBSA at the O.B. Sportsplex, John was appointed the Citizen Advisory Chairman for Policy and Administration in 2008. He also serves on O.B. Planning Commission and the Mayor’s Citizen Finance Committee.
Ken Cooper – Owner of the orangebeach.ws community website, Ken was recognized as a respected media source and an outlet for dispersing important information to Orange Beach citizens through social media. Active in business community, Ken also bakes and sells the popular Orange Beach Pies sold locally.
Allen and Diane McElroy – Allen and Diane are active citizens on many fronts. Allen serves as chairman of the Orange Beach Business and Industrial Development Board and is very active in council meetings. Both are Friends of the Arts board members and are extremely active as volunteers with their church and the Alabama Coastal Chamber of Commerce. “There are lotss of opportunities out there for anyone who wants to volunteer,’’ Diane said.
Ron & (posthumous) Sunny David: Ron & Sunny (posthumous) helped form the Orange Beach Concerned Citizens Group that has organized debates during local elections and worked to encourage dialog between citizens and their elected officials in the city. Ron is also a big supporter of the Veteran’s Home in Bay Minette.

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Special Recognition Awards

Peter Rabideau and Larry Autrey were presented Special Recognition awards during the recent Citizen & Employee Awards Night that was part of the Orange Beach Community Association’s Night of Recognition at the Orange Beach Community Center.
Autrey ( far left) celebrated his 100 th birthday with a huge party at the Orange Beach Senior Center in July. He’s been living in Orange Beach since 1973. “The doctor tells me ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’’ he said. “I enjoy life and I always did the best I could. And I have good neighbors who are always willing to help in all respects.’’ Autrey’s wife of 70 years was recognized by the city in 2013.
A former professor at LSU, Iowa State and Mississippi State, Rabideau qualified for the Senior Olympics and will represent Orange Beach in the 5K & 10K races at the Senior Games scheduled next year in Birmingham. He runs 28 miles per week and recently won his age division in the recent Azalia Train Run in Mobile.