GreerToday.com offered a $25 gift card to Wild Ace Pizza and Pub to the person who correctly guessed the mystery speaker.
Abraham Lincoln. That’s right, the 16th President of the United States, portrayed by Gerald Young Pitts was the mystery speaker. Pitts, near the same stature of Lincoln at 6-foot-4, wore a black long-tailed suit with the trademark tall top hat reminiscent of the Civil War period. He was in character throughout including entering the room to Allen Smith’s introduction featuring a U.S. flag on wide screen TVs and music to “Hail to the Chief”.
The chamber offered "A penny for your thoughts" as a clue late Thursday.
A couple of practical guesses included former Clemson head football coach Danny Ford, Stuart Spinks and Mrs. Claus. The chamber ruled out Santa on Thursday.
Creativity prevailed with suggestions like Lady Gaga, Spiderman and Kermit the Frog.
QUARTERLY SMALL BUSINESS: Jason and Allison Clark, owners of BIN112 and The Strip Club 104 Steak House were named the quarterly small business of the year award.
HEALTHY AGENDA: Ed Driggers, city administrator, announced a Weight Watchers partnership with Greer Chamber members for a program to begin in January. The meetings will be on Thursdays at noon at a City Hall Event facility. Call Lisa Elliott, HR specialist at City Hall, at 968-7010 for information and pricing.
Driggers is the city’s poster person for Weight Watchers after losing over 70 pounds two years ago while maintaining his new weight.
OOPS! John Mansure, President of Greer Memorial Hospital, is the incoming President of the Chamber Board of Directors. He asked for First Friday newcomers to raise their hands to acknowledge them. He also jestly asked, “Where have you been?” “We’re at the hospital working,” the two employees of Greer Memorial said as the room erupted in laughter.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Greer Memorial Hospital, formerly Allen Bennett Hospital, will celebrate 60 years of health care in Greer in 2012. The Greenville Hospital System, of which Greer Memorial is associated, will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! Those who attended today’s meeting have to admit it was entertaining and light, just as Chamber President/CEO Allan Smith promised.
Allison and Jason Clark could not attend today’s meeting to accept an award, because of their Friday lunch special at BIN112. A video showing Smith presenting the award to Allison was viewed with the sound slowed and Smith appearing to have his speech slurred.
“They say we talk slow in the south, but my goodness ... , ” Smith said while the members and guests laughed. Chamber staff came to Smith’s aide when they said it was viewed at regular speed on their office computers.