Mike Cox of Little General Receives TGCSA Grocer of the Year Award Mike Cox, Chairman of the Board of Little General Convenience Stores based in Union City has been named the 2006 TGCSA Grocer of the Year. Cox was presented with the award at the TGCSA Convention held at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Honored with winning the award, Cox was in disbelief to see many of his friends, employees and team members who surprised him by attending the award presentation. Little General Convenience Stores is an oil distribution company comprised of 41 convenience stores across Middle and West Tennessee and West Kentucky. The company employs approximately 350 people and Cox is known for having a strong sense of placing the right person in the right job. He credits his knack of finding good people with his success in the business. Cox also promotes ongoing training programs for his employees and takes great pride in the fact that he has some faithful long-term employees within his company. Our organization is extremely fortunate to have a business leader like Mike as a member, TGCSA president Jarron Springer stated. The team that he has built at Little General is preeminent and a result of Mike s hard work. The Grocer of the Year award is the highest honor given by TGCSA. Cox served on the TGSCA Board of Directors from 1995 to 2000. In 1999, Cox was installed as the chairman of the board and continues to remain active with the association today. Spirit of America Award Presented to Gene Wade Gene Wade, owner of Wade s Piggly Wiggly and past president of TGCSA was honored with the National Grocers Association s Spirit of America Award at the 2006 convention. The award was presented to Wade by N.G.A. Director of Government Affairs Greg Ferrara in Summer 2006 The Volunteer Grocer praise of his support and leadership of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, in recognition of his active and effective participation in government affairs to preserve and foster the principles of free enterprise, and as a strong and effective advocate for the independent food distribution industry. The N.G.A. Spirit of America Award, established in 1982, honors key industry and community figures who have provided leadership in the areas of community services and government relations on behalf of a free and independent food distribution system. N.G.A. has given this award to over 400 individuals, including Presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford, and Vice President Dan Quayle, as well as other distinguished individuals serving the public interest. The Spirit of America Award has been given to Kevin Doucet, Rick James, Gene Rushing, Fred Copeland, Ed Matthews, Charles & Beverly Lynxwiler, Tracy Bearde, Andy Marshall, Moses King, March Mayeux, Representative Jim Cooper (D- TN), and Ward Sylvester. 13
14
15
16
17
The Eagle Official newsletter of the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation Joe Wolf Named 2006 Hall of Eagle Recipient Since 1992, Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation has chosen a select group of individuals to be inducted into the Hall of Eagles. Past contributions that have gained admission include the development of product promotions, which was fathered by Ed Shull and Charlie Edwards; the development of a world-class golf tournament, which was spearheaded by Tommy Faulk; as well as the creation of the piggyback concept, which led to the induction of David James. Joe Wolf of Alliance Marketing was the 2006 inductee. Wolf has served as the middle Tennessee Golf committee chairman for the last three years. In those three years, the tournament has raised $80,000 for TGEF. He also plans the annual Alliance Marketing Bowling Tournament which raises over $8,000 annually to fund scholarships awarded by TGEF. Joe served on the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation Board of Trustees from 2001-2005 and continues to support TGEF today. With this induction, the Hall of Eagles now has 26 members. Casey Miller of Publix Bags the Best Bagger Competition Miller was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and a trophy. The Best Bagger contestants are judged on speed, proper bagging technique, bag weight distribution, style, attitude and appearance. Individual TGCSA member stores across the state conduct in-store competitions and send their winners to the TGCSA annual competition. Proud winner Casey Miller and supporters. Casey Miller of Publix won the 2006 Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association Best Bagger contest held at the annual convention in April. As the winner of the state competition, Miller has the chance to compete at the 2006 National Grocers Association s contest in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition Miller in action! Summer 2006 The Volunteer Grocer 19