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Hungry Harry's Wins Chamber Award

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

SEFFNER - Local business leaders are honoring Harry Wright, who raised five daughters and a son earning a living using his barbecuing skills, with this year's Business of the Year Award.

Wright, owner of Hungry Harry's Famous Barbecue, received his award during the Seffner Area Chamber of Commerce's first Choice Awards on Jan. 15.

He opened Hungry Harry's on north Parsons Avenue near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in 2005 after running a successful restaurant in Land O' Lakes for 20 years.

"This place reminds me of Land O' Lakes 20 years ago," Wright said as he accepted the award at Seffner Elementary. "It's a privilege to come here and see this hometown."

The chamber also presented an award for Outstanding Member of the Year posthumously to charter member Sharon Carter, who died in December. Her friend of 43 years, Marsha Switzer, accepted the award in Carter's honor.

"The chamber voted at one point to disband," said chamber President Dennis Schrand. Carter wouldn't have it. She rallied the troops and kept the small business group alive, he said.

"Today, the chamber is growing and is doing well," with about 130 members, Schrand said. "We wanted to remember Sharon. She was a well-known hero of the chamber, always in the background or the foreground to make sure it kept going."

"I'm proud to accept this on Sharon's behalf," Switzer said. "I wish she could be here with us."

The Rev. Billy Dickerson of First Baptist Church of Mango received a Choice Award for appreciation. The church has welcomed chamber members into its halls monthly for business luncheons, and Dickerson has become an active participant.

Members of Cub Scout Pack 105 presented a flag ceremony and held a cake contest and auction to raise money for camping and other Scouting activities. The chamber chartered the Scout pack some 40 years ago.

SWEET SUCCESSES
Cub Scout Pack 105's cake contest, held during the Seffner Area Chamber of Commerce's Choice Awards ceremony, awarded entries in four categories:

Largest:

First place: Grayson Selser

Second place: Nathan Gough

Third place: Corey Savage

Most original:

First Place: Christian Lipke

Second Place: Tyler Marais

Third Place: Joshua LeGrande

Most patriotic:

First Place: James Butler

Second Place: Joseph Sabando

Third Place: Cody Sabando

Best Cub Scout theme:

First Place: Charles Conover

Second Place: Nathan Gough

Third Place: Cory Kosek

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or at yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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