During the Keep Athens Beautiful (KAB) 25th Anniversary celebration Darwin Winfield gave a history of the 25 years of KAB.Winfield said, “The vision of KAB was a town that is cleaner and prettier where children are taught to recycle, and trees are planted every year." Keep Athens Beautiful was born in 1988. Under the direction of Margaret Myers, and other committee members, the beautification committee became part of Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful. Some of the first KAB Board of Directors were Dick Dwelle, Hugh Armstrong, Neil Hunter, Larry Babb, Kevin Evans, Ginger Morton, Janice Russell, Hurl Prock, Carolyn Brown, Charles Tidmore, Jess Laird, the Rev. James Glover, Bill Caldwell and Sam Hurley. KAB has also had six directors in the past 25 years to help accomplish its goals. Those directors were Felecia Cain, Sharon Sanders, Julie Culp (Lowe), Heather Murphy and Sherri Callahan. Current Director Carol Morton is in her 10th year as Executive Director.
Some of KAB early priorities included the destruction of condemned homes in Athens, the reduction of litter, and the building of a recycling program. Margaret Myers said one of the important benefits of making KAB an independent organization was the Governor's Community Achievement Award (GCAA).
The GCAA allows cities that display exceptional dedication to community beautification to compete for funds every few years in order to complete city projects. KAB has won the GCAA eight times since 1992.
The newest GCAA project is in the works, and look next year for some changes to the area around the courthouse square.
KAB Board member Peggy Rhodes, presented Hugh Armstrong with the Margaret Myers Award. Armstrong, one of the first original board members, was instrumental in planting the crepe myrtles seen around Athens, as well as other projects in the Athens area. Other award winners included Jerry Waldell and Victry Roberts. Morton presented the two deserving volunteers with the KAB Hall of Fame Awards.