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By Warren Watkins The Daily Citizen While the nation muddles through an economic downturn, citizens of White County are enjoying the biggest economic boom in its history, fueled by natural gas. Over 400 members and guests of the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce gathered for their 62nd annual banquet Monday night in Harding University’s Heritage Center, with Tom Price, senior vice president of corporate development for Chesapeake Energy, extolling the benefits of the development of the Fayetteville Shale Play and giving assurance of the company’s commitment to White County’s future. “The Fayetteville Shale is an incredible example of America’s technology and ingenuity,” Price said in the keynote address. “It’s amazing that we could drill down 5-7,000’, then turn a drill bit and go parallel to the surface of the earth.” White County has seen the lion’s share of investment, new wells, employment and production. Using the theme, “Great things don’t just happen,” incoming Board Chairman Jim House used a PowerPoint presentation to list dozens of news businesses in White County, most linked to gas development, representing millions of dollars of investments. “Greatness is hard work,” Price said. “Greatness is earned every day.” Price emphasized the future of natural gas development in White County. “Chesapeake will continue to be an engaged corporate partner and as consistent to enhancing the quality of life as we are today and hopefully every day,” Price said. “We evaluate ourselves and should be evaluated every day.” Dr. Clark Fincher, recognized as the Searcy Medical Professional of the Year, practices general internal medicine at Searcy Medical Center. “I’m very honored to have been selected,” Fincher said. “I’m very appreciative of the chamber selecting me.” Fincher described the Searcy medical community as one of the best in the state for a town of its size concerning number, diversity, types and specialties of doctors, and the amount of technology at White County Medical Center, which he said had an excellent physical plant and staff. Dr. J. D. Patterson, a Searcy dentist known for his philanthropy both locally and to his alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, was named Humanitarian of the Year. Alice Adams, owner of Adams Pest Control of White County, was given the Searcy Woman Business Owner of the Year award. “It was very unexpected but much appreciated,” Adams said. “We went into the pest control business in 1957.” Adams and her husband, Jimmy, who died in 2003, bought the business from Jimmy’s brother, Shorty Adams, in 1992 and also owns Adams Pest Control of North Little Rock, run by Timothy Adams and Tim Adams, her son and grandson. Her brother-in-law, Glen Adams, owns and manages Adams Pest Control of Little Rock. Adams said being a woman involved in business is not difficult for her because of her background. “For me personally, it is not a hard thing at all,” Adams said. “It’s a natural thing because I was a partner with my husband, and we have worked together. So when we lost him, I have wonderful employees. When you’re in a service business your product is the labor of your employees, and I have a loyal, wonderful group of employees.”
Pictured: Jim House presenting Letain DeVore a recognition plaque for her service this year as chair.
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