Steed Tire Service was honored as the Brundidge Business of the Year by the Brundidge Business Association at its annual banquet Thursday night. The business is owned and operated by Lamar and Shirley Steed and has been a mainstay in the Brundidge business community for more than 35 years.

King Isaac, a longtime employee of Steed Tire Service, presented the award to the Steeds and thanked them for the kindnesses and love they have shown over the years.

“We are a family and these people are good people and Mrs. Steed is a great lady,” Isaac said. “We all love one another and work together as a family. That’s how it should be.”

In accepting the award, Steed said that he was humbled and honored to receive the award and expressed appreciation to the BBA for the recognition but quickly gave credit to those around him who share in the success of the business — his wife, his family and the employees.

Chuck Caraway, BBA president, said Steed was being honored, not only as a successful businessman, but also for what he has done for the community.

Steed has served as president of various organizations including the Brundidge Chamber of Commerce, BBA and the Brundidge Rotary Club where he has had perfect attendance since 1987 and counting. He is also a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

Steed has served on the Brundidge Industrial Development Board, the Pike County United Appeal and the Pike Chamber of Commerce.

He is a member of the Alabama Tire Dealers Association and was recently inducted into the Tire Dealers Hall of Fame.

He is a deacon at Richland Baptist Church where he teaches Sunday school.

Also honored at the banquet were Samuel Valentine as Teacher of the Year at Pike County Elementary School and Sharon Denison as Pike County High School’s Teacher of the Year.

Valentine is a sixth grade teacher who loves what he does.

“I’m sometimes asked how long I’ll teach,” said Valentine who is retired military. “And, I say as long as I’m effective. I’d rather be an effective teacher than a good teacher. My goal as a teacher is to see the weakest student that I have graduate college.”

Willie Wright, PCHS principal, said that Denison, who is the director of the school’s Business and Finance Academy, is a one of the most dedicated and hard working teachers that he knows. She is dedicated to her students and to Pike County High School.

“I am passionate about teaching,” Denison said. “I am passionate with my kids and I do call them my kids. I believe that if you work hard you will accomplish much.”

Denison instills the values in her students that will enable them to be successful in whatever path they take in life, Wright said.

Caraway introduced Miss Brundidge Liberty Kilpatrick and Little Miss Brundidge Emily Bryan and the Miss Brundidge pageant director Jane Thrash.

“Liberty and Emily have represented Brundidge well all across the county and at the Peanut Festival Pageant in Dothan,” she said. “They have been outstanding.”

Kilpatrick, a student at Huntingdon College, said an emotional goodbye as Miss Brundidge.

“Representing Brundidge has been my dream since I was a little girl,” she said. “I hate to give it up.

Bryan said representing Brundidge has been a lot of fun and an honor. She thanked the BBA for the opportunity to meet new people and learn new things.

“I went to Peanut and learned to put peanuts in my Coke,” she said and got a laugh from the audience.

Caraway recognized the new businesses in Brundidge and expressed appreciation for their confidence in locating in the downtown area. Bella Zaire, owned and operated by Henry and Pam Jinright; Studio 116, owned and operated by Chris Rich and Sara Dismukes; Main Street Jewelers, co-owned and operated by Corliss Rushing; and Cabin by the Lake, owned and operated by Andy Shirley are the new additions to the Brundidge business community.

The BBA officers for 2013 were announced. Dorthea Dow, will serve as president; Chuck Caraway, vice president; Dixie Shehane, secretary; and Glenda Gunter, treasurer.

The newly appointed BBA board directors are Linda Faust, Anthony Foster, Melanie Hawkins, King Isaac, Chris Rich and Corliss Rushing