Dennis Mueggenborg was announced as Kingfisher’s Citizen of the Year and Rachel Cameron the Volunteer of the Year during Monday night’s 84th annual Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

The announcements came near the end of the banquet that included Kingfisher High School graduate Braden Burns as the keynote speaker, who touted the virtues of the community (see related story).

“I’ve been doing this for quite a while…41 years to be exact,” Mueggenborg said. “I’ve been coming to chamber banquets a lot of those years and I remember older people standing up here talking about how great Kingfisher is and that it’s a great place to live.

“Braden you gave a great synopsis of that. Thank you all.”

Mueggenborg was introduced by Jamae Frey, who was one of multiple nominators, including Beth Evans.

Frey noted Mueggenborg is a KHS graduate.

“Following further education, he moved back home and a business was purchased as were many of the downtown buildings restored and put to use,” Frey told the crowd.

“Downtown had started reviving a little bit thanks to this individual.”

On top of his expansive knowledge of Kingfisher and being a successful business owner, Mueggenborg is actively involved in his church and other organizations in town, Frey said.

“And he has donated so much for the chamber over the years,” Frey continued. “I couldn’t even begin to start listing all those things in the nomination letter.

“He is just amazing.” A family nurse practitioner, Cameron owns Trail Creek Wellness and also has volunteered for nearly a decade at the Compassion Clinic held at the First Baptist Church.

Among several who nominated her was Deborah Maehs, who was unable to attend the banquet.

Bridget Keast, who worked with Cameron for more than a dozen years, introduced Cameron.

“This year’s volunteer has been involved in community service of many kinds for most of their adult life,” Keast noted. “Including important activities such as lobby at the state Capitol for better rural health for all of you.”

In addition to the Compassion Clinic, which has seen thousands of patients over the years, Keast also highlighted Cameron’s work with Kingfisher Community Collaborative, a multi-disciplinary child abuse response team, and her work as a licensed Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), noting Cameron “gave up every Friday for more than six months” to serve those in need.

Keast said Cameron’s work in that area ensured communities have “had the very best medical and emotional care for victims of sexual assault and, more importantly, an advocate for that person in court against the assailant.”

Keast also said Cameron - at her own expense - sent several medical professionals to the Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas last year.

“I’m sure you’ll agree with me this volunteer makes this community a healthier and safer place for its residents,” Keast said.

Before leaving the stage, Keast added, with a smile: “She’s here because she thought it was going to be me.”

Cameron credited Keast for being a type of mentor.

“I’ve been really privileged to get to work beside one of the greatest volunteers I’ve ever known - that’s Bridget - for 13 years,” Cameron said.

Like many others on the night, Cameron lauded the community in which she works.

“It’s a privilege and honor to get to do this…to get to serve this great community,” she said.

Cameron said the Compassion Clinic was the work of many, noting that as many as 50 people volunteer to complete the effort.

“We’re just doing Jesus’ work,” she said. “We’re just the hands and feet and just listen to Him and He puts everything else in place. But thank you.”

The chamber presented two new awards this year.

Dyamonique McCarty, owner of Black Gold Nutrition, was named the Social Media Superstar and former Rep. Mike Sanders, the founder of Sanders Strategy and Consulting Group, was announced as the Ambassador of the Year.

Heath Redwine, president of the chamber’s board of directors, and Jalene Jackson, the board’s vice president, presented Chamber Executive Director Shauna Rupp with a citation from the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Rupp was previously named the New Executive of the Year by the OCCE.

This year’s banquet theme was “Come Grow With Us.”

Redwine noted the chamber membership has grown from 138 members in 2019 to more than 220 as of last week.

“If there’s one thing I want everyone here to know about Shauna, it’s that there’s not a day goes by where she’s not trying to come up with a way to create more value for you, our members,” Redwine said.

Rupp called the citation “humbling” and discussed with the membership the ways a growing chamber can be a more potent asset for its members.

She thanked her staff and board members for the work they put in throughout the year.

“I don’t feel this is a job,” Rupp said. “I feel it’s a calling.”