Dr. Richard Manahan, who chaired the Chamber during its 75th year, opens the time capsule with Gary Mabrey.
Photo by Jeff Keeling
By Jeff Keeling and Scott Robertson
You’d have thought it was a hundred-year anniversary or something the way smiles, laughs and reminiscences made their way around the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce serving Johnson City-Jonesborough-Washington County on Monday.
Then again, it was.
An august yet jovial group of former board chairs joined other chamber members; local, state and federal government leaders; and other dignitaries on the Chamber’s “official” 100th birthday.
Speakers representing the private and public sectors extolled the Chamber for the crucial role it has played in the community’s growth and prosperity.
Congressman Phil Roe, whose political career began across the street from the Chamber headquarters at city hall, told a crowd of around 150 business and community leaders, “I have had a chance to work with the Chamber and watch business development here in Johnson City for the last 20 years and I think it’s just amazing the job they have done. (Chamber President) Gary (Mabrey) has been an amazing leader of this Chamber for decades now and the entire city has been blessed by his leadership.”
The Chamber’s first female chair, Ruth Ellis. Photo by Jeff Keeling
Mabrey returned the favor, lauding the collaboration between the private sector, represented by the Chamber, and government.
Many of the smiles and memories were elicited by the opening of a time capsule that had been filled with memorabilia from the Chamber’s 75th year in 1990 and then closed up for a quarter century.
The celebration followed a quieter meeting inside Mabrey’s office during Monday’s lunch hour. It was then that Mabrey and his 1990 chairman, Richard Manahan, took their first look at what had gone into the time capsule all those years ago.
“There’s some great things in there,” Mabrey said as the pair pulled out photo after photo, copies of the “Johnson City Business” magazine, and treats such as an oversized championship ring commemorating the East Tennessee State University men’s basketball team’s success.
Manahan, the first ETSU representative to serve as board chair, recalled the cementing of a “town-gown” relationship between ETSU and Johnson City that flourishes to this day. Several stories came up of former President Gerald Ford’s visit to Johnson City in 1990.
In the end, Mabrey said he had three things to say to the community on behalf of the Chamber. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Don Raines, Tony Treadway of Creative Energy and Brenda Whitson of the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau Photos by Jeff Derby, Jeff Keeling and Scott Robertson
Kiesha Shoun and Becky Buchanan of the city of Johnson City
State Representative Matthew Hill and ETSU Vice President Dr. Richard Manahan
Congressman Phil Roe congratulates Chamber President Gary Mabrey.
Pat Miller, longest-continually-serving Chamber ambassador
ETSU’s Bob Plummer and Charlie Stahl, assistant city manager of Johnson City
Gary Mabrey receives congratulations from his Kingsport Chamber counterpart, Miles Burdine.
Gary Mabrey digs into the time capsule as Dr. Richard Manahan talks about the mementos from the Chamber’s 75th anniversary.
