Whether running a small business or a Major League Baseball team, making the most of an opportunity is critical. That was the message keynote speaker and Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth delivered to a packed Strathcona Paper Centre banquet hall last Thursday during the Lennox and Addington County Economic Development Awards.

As the long-time radio voice of the Jays, Howarth may seem like he lives a pretty easy life. There was a time, however, where he was struggling to make ends meet after he lost his job as a minor league broadcaster.

Instead of throwing in the towel, he vowed to make the most of it. He decided to take a risk, leaving his home state of California for a broadcast job in Salt Lake City.  “Not only did I get fired and move to Salt Lake City, that’s where I adopted my two boys,” recalled Howarth. “That’s the best firing I ever had.”

After a few years of broadcasting for the California Angels’ affiliate the Salt Lake City Gulls, he got his break and was offered the chance to call Blue Jays games in 1981, a role he still holds.

Even today he’s still learning transferable lessons, like the leadership he sees in Toronto’s All-Star right fielder José Bautista.

“After batting practice when all the work is done, he’s right there with the kids signing autographs,” Howarth says of the slugger. “I can’t say enough about the character of José Bautista.”

Howarth sees the same thing in All-Star pitcher Ricky Romeo, who has become a clubhouse leader, helping the mid-market Jays work their way towards overthrowing the much richer New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

Many of those same risk taking and leadership traits were in this year’s award winners.

The biggest honour went to Odessa’s Francis Savage, as he was named the recipient of the county’s Lifetime Achievement Award. As owner of Savage's Home Hardware, he twice saw his business ravaged by fire, only to rebuild and re-open.

Savage was working for his father Brendan when, at the age of 12, he saw the family store burn to the ground in 1954. Years later, this time when he was running the operation, he had to overcome the same thing.

“Life isn’t without challenges,” Savage said upon accepting the award. “Our biggest challenge was rebuilding after we had a devastating fire in 1974. The very day that the fire occurred was Christmas Day.”

The same night of the fire, the people of Odessa all chipped in some money to help the Savage family get back on their feet.
“The community was really good to us,” said Savage. “Cathy (his wife) and I always remembered that night that they came with that envelope and we always appreciated the support we received from the community.”

When he wasn’t minding the store Savage was giving back to the town. At the age of 15 he joined the Odessa Fire Department where he served for 18 years. During that time he and his colleagues built an outdoor skating rink in Centennial Park, using the fire truck hose to flood the ice.

From there he went on the become a member of the Township’s Recreation Committee where he helped build and design the W.J. Henderson Arena in Amherstview.

In 1984 he was elected to the L&A County School Board where he negotiated better working conditions and benefits for local teachers. In 2004 he retired from running the store, handing the reins over to his son David and daughter-in-law Deborah.

Along with the lifetime award the county also handed out honours to four local businesses.

The Manufacturer of the Year was Napanee’s Willy Dog Hot Dog Carts. Specializing in custom hot dog vending carts, they have been in town since 2010 and sell to vendors across the globe.

Small Firm of the Year went to Cloyne’s Hook’s Rona. Along with the county’s award, they were also named Canada’s Best Hardware Store of the Year at the Outstanding Retailer Awards earlier this year and serve as an important part of the county's northern job force.

Taking home the Tourism Product of the Year was Tamworth's North American Gaeltacht. A place to study Irish music, dance, history and language, they are the only gaeltacht outside of Ireland. They hope to use this award as leverage for grant money to someday build a facility similar to Cape Breton's Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts.  

Agricultural Operation of the Year went to Loyalist Township’s Paulridge Berry Farm. In operation for more than 30 years, the pick-your-own berry farm is made up of 20 acres of strawberries, 10 acres of raspberries as well as peas, beans, potatoes and sunflowers.

For the first time ever the awards featured a Community Volunteer Recognition category. The award honoured those who have worked hard to help increase tourism to L&A County.

Stone Mills' Bob and Wendy Brockmeyer were honoured for their work on the L&A Rides motorcycle initiative. They developed routes and also assisted on a photo shoot for Harley Owners Group magazine, which profiled the country's great riding routes.

Napanee’s Joe and Theresa Tisdale were recognized for helping to organize the successful geocaching event  that the county hosted in August. They placed 60 new caches across the county, making L&A a great destination for geocachers across the province.

From:  Howarth hits home run at economic development dinner
The Napanee Beaver
November 24, 2011