Scott Thompson

A native of Marietta, Scott attended Young Harris College, majoring in Theatre. He and His wife, Dana, share their home with “five fur babies.” Scott is known as a singer-songwriter community advocate and champion of all things Rome.

His activities include:

-Christmas Back Home Concert free tickets to Davies Homeless Shelters and Open Door Home
-“Sing for Your Supper” fundraiser concert for Community Kitchen-Thus far has raised $20,000.00
-Board member and Events Chairman of Coosa River Basin Committee
-Volunteer and Board of Rome Area Council for the Arts
-Member of Downtown Development Authority Promotion
-Originator of Brown Bag Concerts
-Mentor for local high school student

Nominator: “Scott’s passion for creating change for the better and changing the status quo has brought vibrancy to downtown Rome.  His passion for serving the community cannot be denied.”

2022 Award Recipients:

Lauren Sklar

Lauren is a native of Rome and a graduate of West Rome High School. She attended Converse College and received a master’s degree from the University of West Georgia. Lauren is married to Marc Sklar and they are the parents of Abby and Emma.

Her community activities include:

-Junior Service League past president and a Sustainer of the Year recipient.

-First Baptist Church — Deacon, missions teacher, Sunday School teacher, Women of the Church chairperson and chairperson of the flower committee.

-Leadership Rome graduate and Leadership Rome coordinator

-Darlington School parent

Nominator: “Lauren is adaptable and flexible no matter what comes her way. She loves and is passionate for this community.”

2022 Award Recipients:

Tina Brinson, Award of Honor

Tina Brinson has been described as a giving selfless person volunteering for years behind the scenes. Her activities include:

-Sexual Assault Center-Past Chairperson and Fundraising volunteer
-Rome Celebrity Dancing with the Stars
-Producer of plays at Rome Little Theatre
-Darlington School-Parent Teachers Association and Fund Raising committee
-Volunteer with Berry Half Marathon
-Volunteer and Fundraising for Northwest Georgia Boys Scouts
-St. Mary’s School board Member and fund raising
-Volunteer with Underground Rome Tours

Tina is married to Rob Brinson and they are the parents to Maggie Grace and Madison.

Nominator: “Tina has been volunteering for years. She remains calm in all situations.  When Tina volunteers, her whole family volunteers.”

2022 Award Recipients:

A native of Douglasville, Georgia, Emily and her husband, Peter, moved to Rome in 1998 from Thomasville, Georgia. She immediately began giving selflessly and tirelessly to Rome and Floyd County.

Her past activities and service includes:
Volunteer, Good Neighbor Ministries
Leadership Georgia Class of 1997
Leadership Georgia Program Chair 2001
Co- Chairman, American Cancer Society Cattle Barron’s Ball
Trustee Darlington School
President, Darlington Upper School Parents Association
Charter Steering Committee Member to Establish Young Life in Rome
President, Rome Area Council for the Arts
Board Member, Heart of the Community
Creator of HeArt Art Project
Creator of RACA’s Firefly Fling Annual Student Art Contest
Member of Leadership Team that Launched the Year Long Ellen Axon Wilson 100th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration, which Culminated in the Gift to the City of Rome of a Statue of Her on the Town Green

Her current activities and service includes:
Young Lives Board Member and Volunteer
Colonial Dames
HOPE Alliance Volunteer
Foster Family Support Team at Seven Hills Fellowship
Vice President, Rome Area Council for the Arts

Emily and, Peter are the proud parents of Peter W. Hjort, III and Margaret Hjort Morin.

Nominated by Andy Davis and Nancy Knight– “Emily is a tireless and selfless volunteer. She has given her time, money and talents to improve our community.”

2021 Award Recipients:

Villa Sulzbacher Hizer,
Board of Governors’ Award

A native Roman whose family came to Rome in the 1830s,  Villa graduated Thornwood School, now Darlington, and earned her B.A. degree in mathematics at the University of Georgia.  She and her late husband, Courtney, owned and operated North Georgia Distributing Co., a beer and wine wholesale company for 28 years.

She continues to serve on the following Board of Directors:

Boys & Girls Clubs of NW GA -38 years -Received a Distinguished Service Award Chieftains Museum serving as President and Treasurer and now on advisory board
Community Foundation for Greater Rome
University of Georgia Libraries Board of Visitors

Other community involvement has included:
Greater Rome Chamber
Women in Management
Leadership Rome
Darlington School Alumni Council
Darlington Distinguished Alumni Award
Leadership Darlington
American Cancer Society
Heart of the Community
Rome Area Heritage Foundation
Summit Quest
Regions Bank
Junior Service League   Sustainer of the Year 1997
Historic Desoto Theatre Foundation
Georgia Beer Wholesalers

Supporter of many non-profits

Leisure Activities:
Seven Hills Garden Club
Co-Vestors Investment Club
Bonneville Land Speed Racing

2022 Award Recipients:

A native of Stone Mountain, Julie graduated from Shorter College with a B.A in Communication and a Master of Arts in Leadership.
She has made her mission to be involved in our community and champion causes in which she is passionate.

Her areas of service include:
TRED (Trails for Recreation, and Economic Development) Rome/Floyd–Volunteer and now first Executive Director
William S. Davies Homeless Shelter Board
Exchange Club Family Resource Center Board
Former Elm Street Elementary School Parent Volunteer
YMCA’s Outreach Feeding Program
Rome First Methodist Church-liturgist
Rome City Schools Parent Advisory Committee
2017 SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee Member

Julie and her husband, Trey are the proud parents of two sons, Nate and Charlie

Nominated by Allison Watters and others—Mary Hardin Thornton says “Julie is the person you want on your team or committee. She possesses the qualities a person only gains from becoming fully involved in her work. She understands how things work and always remain fair and positive.”

2021 Award Recipients:

Allen and Alfred were born June 25, 1934 in Rome, Georgia sons of Jessie and Pharies Shropshire, Sr.

Both graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania with Honors and Degrees in Biology and Chemistry and then served two years in the U.S. Army as Admission Clerks at the Base Hospital at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. (1957-1959).
Following Army Service, both worked in Philadelphia, PA. Allen was a research assistant in Cardiovascular Research at Jefferson Hospital, while Alfred worked at Albert Einstein Medical Center in the field of developing a drug to be taken as protection against radiation.
Two years later in 1961 they moved their employment to Wyeth Laboratory and Pharmaceuticals in Radnor, Pa. Allen worked in Cardiovascular Research while Alfred worked in Nueropsycho- pharmacology.

Allen Shropshire and Alfred Activities:
-Red Cross Blood Donors
-Members and Volunteer with Rome NAACP
-Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity
-Assisted with renovations of Food Pantry at South Broad Methodist Church, Rome History
Museum and Women’s Shelter
–Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
-Helped design and construct Christmas Parade Floats, Metropolitan UMC
– Recipients of Community Service Award from Bishop Norris K. Allen in Rome

Alfred Shropshire Activities:
-Member of Westminster Presbyterian Church as an Elder and on the Worship Committee while developing a Lenten Devotional Booklet each year.
Volunteer with West Rome Community Kitchen and Wesley Southern Methodist food distribution
-Worked with “ Morning Star” to build decks for portable buildings
– Volunteer with Habitat “Brush With Kindness” making repairs to homes in Rome/Floyd County
-Volunteer with “Kingdom Builders” of Marietta doing home repair projects in Rome
Alfred was married to the late Pearl Thompson and they have twin girls, Tracey and Karen and one son, Alfred, Jr.

Allen Shropshire Activities:
-An officer and member for the E.S. Brown Heritage Foundation
-Volunteer and Supervisor for two Summer Academic Camps children 4-12.
– Member of Metropolitan Methodist Church where he serves as a Trustee, Church School Teacher and Member of Men’s Choir.
– Volunteer cook for “Men Who Cook” at Metropolitan Church
– He and his wife hosted a radio show on WRGA “Food For Thought”. The show which covered
community subjects and activities aired from 1998-2007.

Allen is married to the Mary Lue Foster and they are the parents of two adult children, Steven and
Jessica.

Nominated by John M. and Laney M. Stevenson, “Allen and Alfred exemplify the phrase of “Being a Blessing to Others”.

2021 Award Recipients:

Rev. Norris Allen, Award of Honor  

Norris is a native of Calhoun County, Ala.  He received his elementary education in Floyd County and attended Main High School.

He and his wife, Gladys, have been married for 60 years and are the parents of 5 boys and one girl. He received certification in Electrical Wiring and certifications in Blueprint and Design.  He also earned a certificate in Interior Decorating Design.

His activities include:

-Rome Historical Museum
-NAAC
-Hope Ministries
-Southern Christian Leadership Conference Minister’s Council
– Founded Northwest Georgia Minority Business Association
– Founded Camp Sirron-a camp to teach current and past history to youth
– Founded Martin Luther King Christian Celebration
-Founded Student of Excellence Scholarship Foundation

Nominators: “Norris has been recognized with 50 proclamations from Rome and other cities.  He is a champion for diversity and acceptance.”

2022 Award Recipients:

Dr. McClain has been a Radiologist with Rome Radiology Group since 2006.
A graduate of Georgia State University and the Medical College of Georgia, he completed a Diagnostic Radiology Residency and a Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship at the University of Virginia
He has been a driving force in improving Radiology in Rome. According to Dr. Kirk Kizziah, Dr. McClain’s partner and the current Rome Radiology Board President, “Dr. McClain has added countless innovations and business solutions to our practice, working long hours to make us more efficient as a group, and allowing us to constantly elevate our standards of care. He tirelessly cares for patients and frequently gives of his own time to make our lives easier and our practice thrive”.

Dr. McClain’s activities and awards past and present:
– HCA Research Institute Clinical Research Investigator 2020
-Founder of Plasma Therapy non-profit March 2020-developed to coordinate an facilitate collecting, banking and administration of Convalescent Plasma for COVID-19 in conjunction with Blood Assurance
– Board of Directors The Exchange Club Family Resource Center
– President of Rome Radiology 2014-2018
-Chief Resident Medical College 2003-2004
– Georgia State delegate to the American College of Radiology 2002-2005
-Outstanding President of the Year Medical College Of Georgia Diagnostic Radiology 2003-2003
– Pediatric Radiology Student of the Year Medical College of Georgia 2000
Even before the national recognition of the potential impact of COVID-19, Dr. McClain anticipated the challenges and potential impact on our community. He devoted hours upon hours of research in an effort to understand the virus and innovative therapy options. In addition to his full-time profession as a radiologist, he created a non-profit organization in spring of 2020, Plasma Therapy, dedicated to supporting the medical community with treatment options for COVID-19. He participated with Mayo Clinic as a principal Investigator in their Convalescent Plasma Expanded Access study and began enrolling and treating patients mid-April. He led our local convalescent plasma program, spending countless hours researching protocols, writing protocols, submitting applications to the FDA, presenting to internal review boards at the facilities, fielding media interviews, coordinating with blood banks, creating a website to educate the community and provide a point of contact for potential plasma donors.
Another former radiology partner of Dr. McClain’s, Dr. Bill Harbin, describes him as “an individual with the highest standards, a tremendous work ethic and a deep and sincere dedication to patient welfare.” He goes on to state, “The establishment of this (convalescent plasma) program required the designation of a principal medical investigator, a role that Matt enthusiastically shouldered…. without Matt’s vision and hard work, the plasma therapy that many patients received in Rome and Floyd County likely would not have occurred, and some may not have survived COVID-19.”
Additional comments by a Plasma Therapy board member described Dr. McClain as someone who “selflessly battled for the greater good of our community” during a health care crisis in addition to his full-time profession and role as a husband and father. “He sought hope early and relentlessly pursued answers…..He is not someone to sit back and wait for others to act and his passion for his community always overshadowed his concern for himself’.
According to Dr. Kirk Kizziah, “Following tireless efforts in research and developing protocols. our small town was able to successfully treat one the first patients in the country with plasma, much earlier than many of the academic institutions.”

Dr. McClain is married to Heather McClain and they are the parents of 4 children, Jack. William, Lily Anne and Analise.

2021 Award Recipients:

The definition of a matriarch is a woman who dominated as family, group or state.
With a dazzling career in radio from 1960-2019 Nelle Reagan was known as the matriarch of mass media. She was a pioneer in the broadcast industry where she influenced and served as a mentor to other women
Her service in radio continued until her cancer diagnosis in December2019. Unfortunately, we lost Nelle to this disease on February 7, 2020.
Prior to her death and for many years Nelle was very active in this community>
-Georgia Radio Hall of Fame 2013
– 1961 Excellence in Journalism Award from the Associated Press
– Adult Leadership Award Rome Floyd Commission and Children and Youth
-Public Affairs Coordinator for Rome Radio Partners where she used her show Talk
of the Town to be the community voice. She publicized and never missed an opportunity to
promote and event or fundraising activity.
-Advisory Board for Blood Assurance
-Free Clinic of Rome Tomato Sandwich Supper. Her strawberry cake in Silent Auction-$500.0 – Advocate for Floyd Against Drugs
-Served for 20 years as Chair of the Bob Richards Youth Detention Center
-Grand Marshall Rome Christmas Parade 2012
-Keep Rome/Floyd Beautiful
-Board of Visitors for Shorter College
-Rome Symphony Orchestra Auxiliary
-Past President Rome Civitan Club
– West Rome United Methodist Church

Nominated by John Druckenmiller and others. “Nelle Reagan was unparalled in her service to Rome and Floyd County. Our community has been fortunate to be touched by her love, selflessness and the voice of many.”

2021 Award Recipients:

A native of Tucker, Georgia, Monica is a graduate of Berry College where she received a B.S. Degree
in Horticulture.

Activities:
-Helped get Rome designated as Bee City, USA
-Serves as Co-President Bee City, USA
– Co-founder and current President of Rome/Floyd Beekeepers Association
-Board and Co-Executive Director of Chiaha Harvest Fair for 15 years
-Rome International Film Festival Board and has served as Secretary and President
-Founding Board member for Claws for Paws
-Coosa River Basin Initiative, Board and Vice-President
– Volunteer with Empty Bowls
-Chair, Rome City Alcohol Control Committee
-Weekly column in Rome News Tribune
– Former Board member of NW GA Sexual Assault Center

Monica is the mother of one daughter, Ramsey Cook.
Nominated by Randy Davis an others,“ She is selfless, devoted, determined, generous and charitable”

2021 Award Recipients: