chamber Community Awards

Every year, the Lexington Chamber and its members hold an event to present the Chamber Annual Meeting Awards. These awards are given to remarkable individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their professional endeavors and have made significant contributions to the community. This page is dedicated to honoring these exceptional members who have made a positive impact.

Distinguished Citizen Of The Year Award

2023

Wayne Alley, the 2023 Distinguished Citizen of the Year award winner, has been described as a man with utmost integrity, unselfishness, genuine care for others, loyalty and honor, incredible strength and courage, a man who exemplifies honesty, diplomacy and reliability, authentic true leadership, compassion and philanthropy, bolstered by a brilliant mind and a moral compass.

He is from Lexington and graduated from Lexington Senior High School, and a well-known university in North Carolina. He is also a military veteran, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He is a true servant and a leader in his church and community. Known for his calming presence, his leadership style is marked by rational stability and informed decision-making.

He is a gifted and thoughtful leader, always dependable, always faithful, and never seeking the spotlight. He has advocated for racial justice and fair housing. He believes in helping the less fortunate. Wayne has been a duly elected City Councilor for 16 years, serving 11 of those as Mayor Pro-Tem.

During his tenure, he patiently worked with other Council members to guide our community through some very difficult times, including the recession following the loss of our furniture plants and textile mills, as well as the recent pandemic. As a City Councilor, Wayne played a role in developing and voting in the creation of Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd., The Breeden Insurance Amphitheater, Washington Park’s Splash Pad, The Lexington Aquatics Park, The Lexington Skate Park, the purchase of Brown Street’s Industrial park land, and the development of the soon-to-be-opened Lexington City Centre building.

Outstanding Woman In The Community Award

2023