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Renard, others honored at Fort Scott event
FORT SCOTT -- Local businesswoman Judy Renard was honored Thursday for more than 30 years of service to the community.
Renard, the owner of Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St., was one of several people who received awards honoring local businesses in a variety of categories during the 57th Annual Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Celebration Dinner and Awards Ceremony Thursday evening at The Liberty Theatre.
Renard was the recipient of the Keystone Award, a lifetime achievement award that annually honors a person or couple who have remained active in the business world and the community for several years.
During a video presentation Thursday, Renard said becoming a successful businessperson requires dedication and frequent interaction with customers.
"You have to be devoted to it and know that the customer is always right," she said.
Renard, a 1958 graduate of Fort Scott High School, and her husband, John, moved to Fort Scott in 1969. The little girl who often pretended to be a shopkeeper while growing up in Mapleton later opened up a shop in Fort Scott called Calico Cottage, which was located at 117 S. Main St., in 1979. That store sustained water and smoke damage from a fire in a nearby building in the mid-1980s, and Renard then opened up the Country Cupboard in 1980.
The craft and gift retail store has been a mainstay in downtown Fort Scott since that time.
"She's not just the Keystone Award winner, she's the cornerstone of downtown Fort Scott," chamber member Mark McCoy said of Renard.
Other than her long career as a successful businesswoman, Renard is also very active in the community, and serves on several boards and committees that work toward the continued development of Fort Scott. She also still participates regularly in several volunteer activities in the area.
"She's a great salesperson for the city of Fort Scott," local resident Don Miller said.
During the video presentation, Renard said that while Fort Scott is a small town that sometimes struggles economically, there are still many historical downtown buildings and profitable businesses that can attract tourists and local customers.
"How many small communities can say they have a national historic site at the end of their main street? Not very many," Renard said.
A grateful Renard, who wiped a few tears away before walking up on stage with her husband to accept the award during the Thursday ceremony, said she has always believed in a philosophy that she used to frequently tell her children as they were growing up.
"I always told my kids when they went out the door to 'Do your best,'" she said. "I did my best. Thank you. I love you all."
More than 150 people attended the chamber dinner and awards ceremony; an event that would not have been possible without the assistance of several community members, FSACC President and CEO Vicki Pritchett said.
"There were a large number of people who contributed to the event's success," Pritchett said.
A live auction and silent auction also took place Thursday for a variety of donated prizes. Other award winners that evening included Fort Cinema owners Des and Amanda Hale, who received the New Business of the Year award; Liberty Theatre owner Jim Smith, who received the Businessperson of the Year award; Captured Images owner Gary Palmer, who received the Young Professional of the Year award; Topco Laminates Corporation Vice President Larry Gazaway, who received the Community Spirit Award; Don Woods Moving, which received the Small Business of the Year award; Foster Dairy, which received the Agri-business of the Year award; and Carlisle Power Transmissions, which received the Business of the Year award.
"These individuals and businesses all have been important contributors to the Fort Scott Area community and are prime examples of the hard-working, dedicated business owners and leaders that Bourbon County is so fortunate to have," Pritchett said.