From left, Rick Rose, Lois Humphreys, Councilman Rick Humphreys, Rick Boucher, Councilman Jason Berry, French Moore, Jr., Vice-Mayor Cathy Lowe, Mayor Ed Morgan, Mary Stuart (represesenting her son William Wampler), Joe Johnson, Councilman Bob Howard, and Ben Jennings
The Abingdon Town Council recently held a banquet to award the inaugural recipients of the Arthur Campbell Community Service Awards, the highest honors given by the council. The inaugural arts recipients included Ben Jennings and Rick Rose.
Jennings is an associate professor of English at Virginia Highlands Community College, where he has taught since 1971. For 25 years he has organized the college's Arts Array cultural outreach series, which has presented concerts, lectures, films and other events for the community. He has been a member of the Virginia Highlands Festival Board for 40 years and served in many capacities, including co-president. He has been on the William King Museum Board including serving as its president, is active in the Friends of the Washington County Public Library, and is a founding member of "A! Magazine for the Arts" for which he serves as the co-chair.
Rose has been the producing artistic director of Barter Theatre for 20 years. During his tenure at the theatre, he has quadrupled Barter's annual attendance and overseen several major expansions and renovation of the two stages at the theatre. As an artist, he has directed, choreographed, adapted and/or designed more than 135 productions. He has served on many of the region's and Virginia's non-profit and economic development boards. In 2008 he won the Virginia Torchbearer Award from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Impact Award from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
The other recipients included former Congressman Rick Boucher, Lois Humphreys, Delegate Joseph P. Johnson, Dr. French Moore Jr. and former State Senator William C. Wampler, Jr.
