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From YouTube: Senior Breakfast of Champions 2017 Recap
Description
Recently, the Council on Aging held their second annual Senior Breakfast of Champions, emceed by Mix 96.5’s Ken Ulmer with keynote speaker, award-winning novelist, Tommy Hays. The event recognized and celebrated the contributions of eight seniors nominated by the community and chosen by a panel of sponsors. These “Champions” spend their lives giving to others, they are:
~Becky Anderson, named by US News and World Report as a top 20 visionary for her community development initiatives.
~Julie Bantin, facing health issues herself, crochets for the homeless community.
~Dr. Mel Skiles mainstains the sanctity of the Appalachian Trail and other wild places.
~Roy Harris, a master storyteller, is dedicated to uplifting the underserved and marginalized.
~Dr. Robert Yearout, as a retired airborne Lieutenant Colonel has been inspiring and mentoring students since 1987.
~Janet Ledder, a licensed massage therapist volunteers her healing touch for Homeward Bound and Senior Opportunities.
~Louise Jones, at 87 remains extremely active in her church assisting with food programs and parents in need of child care services.
~And Dr. Julia Capps, leading the way in education, has served Buncombe County for over 50 years as an educator and school administrator.
Congratulations to all the nominated and recognized seniors on their tireless efforts to improve their community. The Asheville Social Security Administration Office, Moose Café and Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging were also honored for their contributions to area seniors. Proceeds from the event support Senior Dining and Wellness and Medicare Education and Counseling services.
To find out more or get involved with the Council on Aging of Buncombe County visit coabc.org or on Facebook.
A
A
Of
here
on
Hendersonville
Road
past
speedy
oil
change,
I
have
my
kids
in
the
car.
They
flashed
up
a
sign,
save
money
at
Senior,
Day
and
my
daughter,
precious
little
8
year
old
had
that
she
turns
to
me-
and
she
says
daddy,
are
you
a
senior
I
clutched
my
pearls
and
have
gave
my
best
exasperated
gasp
and
how
dare
you
and
I
explained
to
her
that
I
would
not
be
a
senior
for
another
30
2015
12
12
years?
B
I
am
really
honored
to
be
here
today
to
join
you
in
this
wonderful
celebration
of
a
extraordinarily
giving
people
who
have
done
so
much
for
our
community
over
the
years
reading
about
their
contributions.
I
was
not
only
impressed
but
moved
and
heartened.
They
are
role
models
for
the
rest
of
us,
showing
us
how,
through
giving
of
ourselves,
we
can
live
our
lives
to
the
fullest,
miss.
A
Becky
Anderson
was
the
founding
director
of
the
Buncombe
County
Child
Development,
the
director
of
economic
development
for
the
city
of
Asheville
and
coordinated
the
wall
street
and
pack
plays
development
projects.
I
would
say,
based
on
the
number
of
people
you
see
downtown
every
day.
Those
are
pretty
successful
projects.
A
A
A
Arts,
but
Julie
is
keeping
it
alive
and
she
has
a
crocheted,
a
variety
of
items
for
project
night
night,
which
is
an
organization
that
enlists
individuals
to
make
items
for
children
living
in
homeless,
shelters
and
just
to
let
you
know
what
a
big
deal
that
is
one
of
my
co-workers.
She
is
my
age
she's
in
the
foster
she
was
taken
from
her
parents.
B
A
Put
in
the
foster
care
system
as
a
child
and
40
years
later
still
has
a
little
stuffed
bear,
so
it
makes
a
difference.
A
handmade
blanket
a
book,
a
stuffed
animal
and
all
made
by
these
hands.
Julie
has
crocheted
items
for
ladies
night
outs:
silent,
auction
netting
$1500.
That
must
be
some
pretty
good
mitten.
You
do
some
pretty
good
crocheting
in
the
winter.
She
makes
hats
and
scarves
and
leaves
them
on
the
benches
and
on
Pritchard
Park
for
anybody
who
needs
them.
A
A
When
you
here
with
dr.
Mills,
been
up
to,
he
was
a
diagnostic
radiologist
in
Indiana
to
celebrate
his
retirement
at
age
66.
He
hiked
the
Appalachian
Trail
in
2012.
He
joined
the
Carolina
mountain
Club
and
became
an
active
trail
maintainer
in
Western
North
Carolina
getting
certified
as
a
Sawyer
weed,
whacker
and
wilderness
first
aid
responders.
He
volunteers,
weekly,
to
help
maintain
hiking
trails,
has
participated
in
the
80s
100
mile
challenge
last
summer,
guiding
and
mentoring
two
teenage
boys
for
a
week
as
they
completed
the
challenge.
A
He
is
an
active
volunteer
with
for
Humanity
manna,
Food
Bank
and
the
Friends
of
the
Blue
Ridge
Parkway
mell
drives
is
for
grandchildren
to
school
every
day
at
school,
drop-off
line.
How
about
that
at
the
bear
in
ml,
I
I
feel
your
pain.
He
lives
an
active
retirement
lifestyle
combining
his
love
of
hiking
and
being
outdoors
with
service
by
maintaining
trails
and
educating
our
youth
about
the
value
of
preserving
our
wild
spaces.
Our
net
senior
champion
dr.
Millis
Kyle's.
A
Mr.
Roy
Harris,
this
is
your
life
sir.
He
attended
North
Carolina
A&T
and
worked
as
an
industrial
engineer
for
Westinghouse
in
Pittsburgh,
moved
to
Asheville
in
1983
to
work
for
a
Rockwell
in
Fletcher.
He
is
a
champion
volunteer
at
green
opportunities.
You
may
be
familiar
with
their
work
from
today's
event:
mentoring
and
working
at
the
Southside
garden.
He
serves
on
the
board
the
ymi
cultural
center
and
he
is
an
active
member
of
Mount
Zion
Baptist
Church.
He
is
a
master
storyteller.
Why.
A
A
master
storyteller
volunteers
with
the
Asheville
storytelling
circle
and
represents
the
Asheville
community,
all
across
North
Carolina
and
was
featured
in
word
honoring
black
history.
He
is
dedicated
to
uplifting
underserved
and
marginalized
communities.
Mr.
Harris
epitomizes,
the
MLK
quote,
the
arc
of
the
moral
universe
is
long,
but
it
bends
toward
justice,
but
I
want
to
share
a
quote
from
mr.
Harris
himself
live
and
let
live.
We
have
more
things
in
common
than
we
have
different.
So,
let's
work
on
the
things
we
have
in
common,
which
yes
I,
think
it's
a
great
philosophy.
Mr.
A
Dr.
Robert
year,
outs,
dr.
Robert
year
out,
is
our
next
honoree
Lieutenant
Colonel,
5th
Special
Forces
Group
airborne.
Thank
you
for
your
service,
sir
Robert
year
out
is
a
graduate
of
VMI
served
our
country
with
distinction,
including
as
a
detachment
commander
in
Vietnam
after
graduating
from
VMI.
He
was
commissioned
in
the
army
and
served
with
the
Green
Berets
in
Vietnam
earning
six
Bronze
Stars
for
valor,
a
professor
at
UNC
Asheville.
Since
1987
he
served
on
numerous
boards
and
editor
shifts.
Dr.
A
year-out
received
several
teaching
awards,
including
the
unc
system's
highest
teaching
award,
the
Board
of
Governors
Award
for
teaching
excellence.
He
and
his
wife
have
made
separate
gifts
to
UNC
Asheville,
including
three
that
were
used
to
establish
endowed
scholarships
paying
it
forward,
which
is
amazing,
he
retired
in
2016,
again
air
quotes
retired
and
has
inspired
the
next
generation
of
faculty
at
UNC,
Asheville
and
beyond,
to
exceed
expectations
when
it
comes
to
teaching
research
and
service
our
next
honoree
this
year,
dr.
Robert
year.
Our
congratulations.
A
We
were
talking
about
literal,
Healing,
Hands,
Janet
volunteers,
with
room
the
room
at
the
end
program
at
homeward
bound
a
tremendous
program
giving
women
who
are
homeless,
seated
massages,
Janet
volunteers,
monthly
at
the
senior
Opportunity
Center
she's
done
that
for
over
12
years
providing
massage
therapy
her
Healing
Touch
brings
comfort
and
relaxation
to
senior
participants,
and
she
also
donates
massages
to
Asheville
community
yoga
and
I
love.
Your
quote
believe
in
the
power
of
our
thoughts.
Our
thoughts
create
our
reality
practice
coming
from
a
place
of
unconditional
love.
A
A
Louise
Jones
of
Black
Mountain
was
not
able
to
join
us
today,
but
at
87
years
old
I
would
like
to
mention
her
tremendous
contributions
as
a
volunteer
in
the
Black
Mountain
community.
She
volunteers,
weekly
for
Christian
ministries,
has
cooked
for
many
local
church
food
programs.
She
is
a
dedicated,
loyal.
B
A
Member
to
Mills
Chapel
Baptist
Church,
she
is
a
mother
to
the
motherless,
a
friend,
to
the
fearless
and
lives
and
works
for
her
community,
and
we
will
get
her
mettle
to
her
and
about
a
round
of
applause
contributions
of
Nicholas
Jones.
Dr.
Julia
Capps
is
not
able
to
be
here
today
either,
but
her
nephew,
Mr
Kenny
Capps,
is
going
to
accept
her
award
on
her
behalf.
A
Your
aunt
has
excellent
taste
in
colleges
and
universities
because
she
received
a
masters
from
Appalachian
State
University,
which
is
metal
worthy
on
its
own.
But
then
she
went
on
to
get
her
doctorate
from
little
University
known
as
Duke.
She
has
served
the
people
and
families
of
Buncombe
County
for
over
50
years
as
an
educator
and
school
administrator.
She
remains
a
fierce
champion
for
children
and
their
education,
so
many
people
are
familiar
with
her
in
Asheville
somebody
who
knows
her
through
the
school
system
whose
life
she
made
better.
A
She
went
on
to
serve
on
the
board
at
Mountain
area,
now
Vernor
championing
our
County's
youngest
learners.
It
is
a
school
that
provides
early
childhood
education
to
families
who
might
not
otherwise
be
able
to
attain
it.
They
do
great
things
at
the
community
garden,
some
great
early
lessons
there,
it's
a
great
program
she's
helping
out
so
on
behalf
of
dr.
Julia,
Katz
cert
after
you
Kenny
Capps,
and
we
please
pass
along
our
appreciation
to
your
interest.