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Johnsons, Hoops for Wake Forest win top awards at annual Christmas dinner
by Johnny Whitfield, Wake Weekly Associate Editor
A husband and wife team with boundless energy were named the 2004 Wake Forest Citizens of the Year in a ceremony Monday night.
Bob and Elizabeth Johnson, owners of The Cotton Company, were selected by members of the Community Council for the annual honor. Hoops for Wake Forest won the nod for Organization of the Year. The three-on-three street basketball tournament has raised money for local charities for the past nine years, passing out $75,000 in donations to a host of organizations. Bob and Elizabeth Johnson have called Wake Forest home for just five short years, but they have filled that time with devotion to the community. They have volunteered for a wide range of activities, from the Downtown Revitalization Corporation to the Chamber of Commerce, which Elizabeth Johnson is slated to lead next year. They also founded HerbFest, which has become one of the most popular annual festivals in Wake Forest. Elizabeth Johnson found herself struggling to control her emotions Monday night, her remarks puncuated by pauses as she regained her composure. "We have always been moved by how well you have accepted us. We're very touched," she told the packed house at The Forks Cafeteria. Bob Johnson had little trouble expressing his feelings. He told the story of a man he was charged with caring for, who ended up teaching him the valuable lesson of living in the moment. "The brightest part of my life, other than my marriage, was moving here," Bob Johnson said. Mike Johnson, who created the Hoops for Wake Forest Tournament in 1995, also expressed appreciation for the town's recognition. "We depend so much on volunteers. This really is an award for all those people who help us put the event on every year," Johnson said after Monday night's ceremony. Greg Harrington, one of the volunteer board members who guides the event each year, said the event offers participants and spectators alike a fun time. "People get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Everybody has a good time," Harrington said. The fundraising event raises money through sponsorships. All the money raised is divvied up among volunteer organizations that donate time to stage the event, which is usually held in downtown Wake Forest each spring. That's a point that makes Mike Johnson especially happy. "We started this just to raise money for local groups and we wanted the money to stay right here in Wake Forest," Johnson said. The annual honors were presented as the highlight of the yearly Community Christmas Dinner. The event is sponsored by the Wake Forest Community Council, which is made up of a variety of local non-profit organizations whose purpose is to educate the community and each other about upcoming events.
Last Updated On: December 9, 2004
Copyright 2004 The Wake Weekly