• Leslie Wilber •
• Originally published January 16, 2009 at 11:19 p.m., updated January 16, 2009 at 11:19 p.m.

YOAKUM - In keeping with his reputation of a man of few words, Mitchel Harbus Jr. said very little as he accepted an award Thursday for his half century of service to the community.

But his smile said it all.

He smiled as he accepted the Paul Gustwick Award from last year's winner Bernice Watson during the Yoakum Area Chamber of Commerce 91st Annual Banquet.

"I want to thank each and every one of you," he said, still smiling. "They told me I could talk for 15 minutes, but I am going to stop at that."

The smile was still present as friends and community members congratulated him after the program.

Harbus, 84, who started volunteering in 1956, has had a hand in the building of many of the city's well known structures. Among them are the community center with the kitchen and barbecue pits in the back, the city's new water and waste water treatment plant, city park pavilion, the RV Park and expansion of the Little League fields in the city park, expansion of the Mac Jamison Park, renovation of the old power plant into the city's library, the new Yoakum Community Hospital, the Yoakum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the downtown shopping center in downtown.

He also successfully worked to keep open the Texas Department of Transportation District 13 office in Yoakum.

He served on the Yoakum City Council for 34 years, 22 as mayor.

Although he has been out of office since 2003, he is still referred to by many as "Mayor."

He retired from his retail business in 1999, but still keeps busy serving on the First State Bank board, where he has served for 31 years. He is also active in the Rotary Club where he is a Paul Harris Fellow; life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Yoakum Volunteer Fire Department; and member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church.

He has been involved in many other organizations over the years.

He is married to Irene Harbus and has a son Mitchel Harbus III.

Four other awards were also presented.

The winners were Leader of Tomorrow, Amber Green; Business of the Year, First State Bank; Educator of the Year, Brenda Westmoreland; and Spirit Award, Mark Herchek.

Amber is ranked second in the 2009 graduating class at Yoakum high school. She is active in many school organizations including student council, is senior class president, National Honor Society, Interact, and UIL math, and ready writing, She is a varsity cheerleader and on the varsity track team. She is the daughter of Karen and Larry Green.

Westmoreland has been in education for 37 years, including 15 as a teacher, 20 as a counselor and the last two years as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Herchek was honored for his 29 years as a volunteer with the Yoakum Volunteer Fire Department, where he is also the assistant chief. He is also active with the chamber, the Yoakum Livestock Show and Knights of Columbus.

First State Bank has been in business for 75 years and employees 34 people. Bank president Dennis Kutach accepted the award.

• 2009 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

  Chairman, Dave Tolbert

  Chair-elect, Lisa Fowler

  Vice chair, Gery Maneth

  Secretary-treasurer, Linda Schmidt

  Past chair, Carl O'Neill

  Directors: Neil Campbell and Connie Zimmerman.

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