Staff Writer

Tammy Powell was selected from a group of 34 to receive the honor of being the first Pike County Business and Professional Woman of the Year.

With tears in her eyes, Powell was presented the award during a luncheon at the Troy Country Club on Wednesday.

"I was surprised," Powell said after having time to think about being named Pike County’s Business and Professional Woman of the Year.

"It’s sounds cliché, but to be nominated is really an honor," Powell said. "I was very appreciative to be nominated."

She said she was "honored" to have had the opportunity to learn from many other professional and businesswomen, many of whom were in the same room and had also been nominated for the award.

"A lot of them are my friends, as well as my colleagues," Powell said of the many women with whom she has worked during her years with the county extension coordinator with the Pike County Extension Office and the various organizations to which she belongs.

Best known as "the 4-H lady" Powell has served as a leader to youth whose leadership potential needed to be tapped and has involved many of them in the 4-H Ambassador program, helping with Extended Day programs in the schools and helping them achieve on a local, state and, even, national level.

She has been with the Extension Office for more than 23 years, but also is an active member of Brundidge United Methodist Church, the Pike County United Way and Pike County Cattlewomen. Powell is also in Delta Kappa Gamma, Brundidge Study Club and the University of Montevallo Alumni Association.

Powell said she has learned so much from some of the 33 other nominees, as well as her mother, who died early this year.

"I know my momma would be proud," Powell said.

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford said all those nominated were worthy of the honor just before he presented a proclamation declaring this as National Business Women’s Week in Troy.

State Treasurer Lucy Baxley, who was the featured speaker, said each woman nominated is "someone to look up to."

She said the event is a tribute to "good, civic leadership" and was proud she could be a part of it.

"I have worked all my adult life," Baxley said, adding that work created in her an appreciation for many jobs.

It was not many years ago that women were supposed to work only in the home ­ cleaning and putting meals on the table.

But, things have really changed, Baxley said.

She said the concern men had as their wives went to work outside the home came into light when, a few years ago, she married a man who was retired. As an active businesswoman, involved in numerous activities and causes, Baxley realized how fortunate she was to have a husband who did not have a career.

She has also learned more people are receptive to women serving in public office.

That, she said, came about "because women in their communities served on the city council, county commission…yet were still taking care of the household and going to church."

It is those management skills ­ keeping a home and family intact ­ that is the best training for a career in public office.

"Parents make decisions based on what’s best for everyone," Baxley said likening to making decisions based on what is best for the entire state.