Lexington chamber Community Awards
Every year, the Lexington Chamber and its members come together to recognize exceptional individuals who have gone above and beyond in their professional pursuits and made significant contributions to the community. This page serves as a tribute to these outstanding members who have truly made a difference.
Distinguished Citizen Of The Year Award
2022
Bill James
The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award winner for 2022 is Bill James, with Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist – Lexington Medical Center.
Bill is a seasoned health care professional who has guided Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center, as President, for the past nine years. As President, Bill leads all aspects of planning, critical operations and services at Lexington Medical Center that also includes the delivery of high quality, patient-and-family centered care, sound fiscal operation of the hospital and outpatient services, and compliance with regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies.
Bill’s leadership was never more evident than when he leveraged his vast skill-set as the driving force in securing funding for, and local community by-in, for the 31.5-million-dollar renovation and expansion of the hospital’s surgical services wing; taking the existing surgical suit and making it a state-of-the-art facility that the whole community will benefit from for decades to come.
Outside of Bill’s varied duties as President, he has always found time to provide leadership in the Lexington and Davidson County community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Davidson Medical Ministries Clinic and is a member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club. Bill has also served on the Chamber Board of Directors.
The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award Committee (made up of past winners) is pleased to present this award to Bill for all his efforts to make Lexington and Davidson County a better place to live and work. Congratulations, Bill!
Outstanding Woman In The Community Award
2022The Outstanding Woman in the Community Award winner for 2022 is Rosalinda Baker, currently serving as a District Court Judge in District 22B, which covers both Davidson and Davie Counties.
Rosalind was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to fill a vacant a vacant seat on the bench, and with that appointment, Rosalind became the first African American to serve as a judge in District 22B.
Rosalind is a graduate of NC A&T State University and received her Juris Doctorate from NC Central University Law School. After being admitted to the NC State Bar, she returned home to Lexington to open an office where she practiced for over 35 years.
While not practicing law or being a seated District Court Judge, Rosalinda has always given back to her community in many ways. Including, but not limited to, serving on the Board of Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist – Lexington Medical Center, Chairperson of the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board, Salvation Army of Davidson County Board (Chairperson), Hospice of Davidson County, The Life Center of Davidson County, Home Solutions of Davidson County, Pastor’s Pantry, Cancer Services of Davidson County, Davidson County Community Action, Habitat for Humanity and First Hope Ministries of Davidson County. Rosalind is also a past member of the Lexington Rotary Club.
The Outstanding Woman in the Community Award Committee (made up of past winners) is pleased to present this award to Rosalinda Baker for a life-time of community-oriented efforts to help make Lexington and Davidson County a better place to live. Rosalind embodies the true spirit of what this award represents and we couldn’t be happier to make this presentation. Congratulations, Rosalind!
Rosalinda Baker
past award recipients
Distinguished Citizen Of The Year
1991
Dan G. Smith
James Frances Slyman
2001
Dr. Ray Howell III
2011
Lee Mabe
Bill McMurray
2021
Todd Hunt
1992
Burr W. Sullivan
2002
Richard Thomas
Larry Potts
2012
Frank Cagle
2022
1993
J. Bryan Brooks
2003
Zeb Green
Winnie Green
2013
Newell Clark
2023
1994
Vernon G. Price
2004
Manly Byerly
2014
Vinnon Williams
1995
Lewis Ardell Lanier
2005
Tim Timberlake
2015
Jeff Griffith
1996
E. Frank Sherron Jr.
2006
Robin Team
2016
Jim Burke
1997
Charles M. England
2007
Bob Sink
Bob Timberlake
2017
Mac Parrott
1998
B. Earl Hester Jr.
2008
Bob Koontz
2018
Larry Link
Jim Dillon
1999
Jimmy Holshouser
2009
Mike Turlington
2019
Gene Klump
2000
Edward C. Smith
2010
Hugh Holliman
Max Walser
2020
N/A due to Covid-19
Outstanding Woman In The Community
1994
Phyllis S. Penry
2004
Jeanne Davis
2014
Katherine Team
2024
1995
Peggy Barnhardt
2005
Rebecca Jo Peoples
2015
Sandy Reynolds
2025
1996
Rochelle T. Grubb
2006
Edna Lanier
2016
Newell Davis
2026
1997
Paula M. Turlington
2007
Beth Parrott
2017
Lynda Swann
1998
Lou G. Adkins
2008
Mary Rittling
2018
Gayle Burke
1999
Helen Brinkley
2009
Carolyn Townsend
2019
Sylvia Walser
Talmedge Hinkle Silversides
2000
Judy Z. Butler
2010
Evelyn Kepley
Sara DeLapp
2020
N/A due to Covid-19
2001
Elizabeth “Bett” Hargrave
2011
Lisa B. Timberlake
2021
Teenie Tilley
2002
Evelyn Harris
2012
Sandy Motley
2022
2003
Melinda Smith
2013
Jeanne E. Leonard