Young Man / Young Woman
The Young Man/Young Woman of the Year Banquet takes place each Winter. At the banquet, one young man and woman are honored for their unselfish volunteer efforts and civic service to the community. Over the years, this dinner has become a staple of our community, with the list of past recipients representing some of the best and brightest leaders in Gainesville/Hall County.
The History
The Gainesville Jaycees have proudly presented the “Young Man and Young Woman of the Year Award” annually for more than the past 80 years. The annual banquet honors a Young Man and Woman who have been stewards to the community with their unselfish volunteer efforts and civic service.
The services for which they are honored must be performed prior to their 40th birthday. The event includes a presentation of the recipient’s accomplishments for which they are honored, gubernatorial proclamations in their honor, and special guests.
Congratulations to the 2025 winners:
Young Woman of the Year: Ashley Davis
Young Man of the Year: Brian Hughs
Nominations must be submitted no later than January 31st, 2027!
Young Man of the Year Award Winners
Charles Thurmond
1945
John Black
1946
Robert Matthews
1947
Elred F. McLeod
1948
Gene Bobo
1949
Dr. Ed Shannon
1950
Carl Lawson
1951
John Jacobs
1952
James A. Dunlap
1953
Sylvan Meyer
1954
Loyd Strickland
1955
Glenn Gilreath
1956
Claude Williams, Jr.
1957
James Mathis
1958
Jack Prince
1959
Robert L. Fowler
1960
Graham Hixon
1961
Don Kahlson
1962
J. Robert Cooper
1963
Thomas Sheffield
1964
D.P. McGeachy, III
1965
John Lackey, Jr.
1966
Don Carter
1967
Carl Romberg, II
1968
William A. Bagwell
1969
Austin Edmondson
1970
W. Woodrow Stewart
1971
John G. McCormick
1972
Nathan Deal
1973
Harold Smith
1974
Philip Wilheit Sr.
1975
Dale Morris
1976
Tom Mundy
1977
George Jones
1978
Ed Cabell
1979
Jimmy Faulkner
1980
James Mathis, Jr.
1981
Wayne Clark
1982
Steve Gilliam
1983
Joe T. Wood, Jr.
1984
Rick Story
1985
Jack Hodge
1986
Dick Valentine
1987
Keith Morris
1988
Rich White
1989
John Byrne
1990
Eddie Staub
1991
James Tipton
1992
J.C. Smith
1993
Jimmy Adams
1994
John Vardeman
1995
Doug Carter
1996
Lee Chapman
1997
Mark Alexander
1998
Anthony Dye
1999
Jody Cooley
2000
Gary Funk
2001
Chip Frierson
2002
Ab Hayes
2003
Cooper Embry
2004
R.K. Whitehead
2005
Allen Nivens
2006
Larry Baldwin
2007
Mack Vinton
2008
Lee Rogers
2009
Davis White
2010
Brian Daniel
2011
Jim Coyle
2012
Jimbo Floyd
2013
Trey Wood
2014
Philip Wilheit Jr.
2015
Brett Fowler
2016
Drew Echols
2017
John Simpson
2018
Phil Bonelli
2019
Nick Bruner
2020
Matt Dubnik
2021
Nathan Crumley
2022
Casey Ryals
2023
Rustin Smith
2024
Brian Hughs
2025
Young Woman of the Year Award Winners
Tracy Vardeman
2001
Dixie Truelove
2002
Maria Calkins
2003
Emily Bagwell
2004
Heather Hayes
2005
Denise Deal
2006
Dr. Jennifer Gottsman
2007
Elizabeth Baldwin
2008
Robyn Lynch
2009
Hart Wilheit Payne
2010
Kelly Lee
2011
Staci Tunkel
2012
Melissa Tymchuk
2013
Heidi Ferguson
2014
Jessica Butler
2015
Julia Greene
2016
Bethany Magnus
2017
Jenny Floyd
2018
Katie Dubnik
2019
Staci Vinton
2020
Joy Griffin
2021
Erin Williamson
2022
Callie Flack
2023
Katie Crumley
2024
Ashley Davis
2025