A devoted physician with more than four decades of service in the field of family medicine and an iconic Hattiesburg business and civic leader have been chosen as recipients of this year’s prestigious Hub Award.
The Hub Award committee will bestow Dr. Thomas Eric Hale and Andy Stetelman the recognition Tuesday, Nov. 12 during a ceremony at the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center. The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m.
The Hub Award recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to the local community and demonstrate a commitment to excellence and dedication to the public good.
“The Hub Award ceremony celebrates leadership, and it is an important and happy occasion to gather annually to applaud two people who have and continue to make a positive difference in our beloved city,” said USM President Emeritus Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas, a member of the Hub Award committee. “We’re thrilled to add Dr. Hale and Mr. Stetelman to the list of past recipients, as they have certainly earned this award with outstanding records of service to Hattiesburg.”
Proceeds from support of the Hub Award program over the last four decades have produced more than $500,000 in scholarship funds, benefitting students attending The University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University through the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation’s Hub Award Endowment.
To reserve a seat for the 2019 Hub Award ceremony and banquet, contact the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation at (601) 583-6180.
About the Hub Award
Established in 1979, the Hub Award originated as “Bobby Chain Day,” with a group of community leaders honoring the contributions and service to the community by the late Bobby Chain, a prominent businessman and former mayor of the city, who also served a term on the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The honor continued annually as the Hub Award, recognizing individuals who followed Chain’s lead in bettering Hattiesburg and the quality of life of its citizens, through their own achievements and commitment to service.
