THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610020641
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: 46 lines
A civic activist who has raised thousands of dollars for the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce was named Citizen of the Year Tuesday night.
Robert Wells, 41, of Kitty Hawk, was selected by the chamber and Centura Bank.
The award was presented during the chamber's annual awards banquet Tuesday night at Owens Restaurant.
Wells is a past president of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the building fund campaign, for which he has raised more than $88,000 over the past two years to reduce the mortgage debt.
He is past president of the North Banks Rotary and a recipient of the Paul Harris Award.
He is active with Nags Head Woods Conservatory, the Outer Banks Community Foundation, Dare County Parks and Recreation, the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, and North Carolina Insurance Underwriters Association.
A licensed insurance agent and certified insurance counselor, Wells was cited for helping the chamber and other local groups understand insurance issues.
``Robert is not only a caring individual and professional in our community but also one who is willing to commit time to making the area a better place to live, work and raise a family,'' said Chamber President Ron Bennett. ``He is diligent in that once he commits to serve on a board or to a particular committee or project, he follows through. You can count on Robert to get the job done.''
Wells is president and CEO of Southern Insurance Agency Inc. of Kitty Hawk. He and his wife, Amy, have four children - Cuyler, Perry, Cobert and Eban. In addition to the plaque, a $100 donation will be made by the chamber to a charity of Wells' choice.
Plaques were also given to Sterling Webster, chairman of the 1996 auction which raised more than $15,000; Mariners Club Chairman Chris Toolan, the Centura Bank Team, and Jeff Wells, who was top salesman for the 4th consecutive year. This year's Mariners Club Membership Drive added 147 members to the chamber's roster, or $31,465.25 in new member sales.
Chamber President for 1996-97 is Rick Mizelle of Johnson, Burgess, Mizelle & Straub. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Robert Wells by CNB