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Mayor Clausie Smith presents this year's Marion Vaughn Community Service Award to Ray Cox, former Kansas House Representative for the 39th District, during the Mayor's Banquet Thursday night at Bonner Springs United Methodist Church.

The suspense is over, and it didn't last for much of the audience after the first few sentences of Mayor Clausie Smith's biography of this year's Marion Vaughn Community Service Award recipient.

At the Mayor's Banquet on Thursday night at Bonner Springs United Methodist Church, Smith's mention of Ray Cox moving to Bonner Springs in 1963 to serve as head high school football coach was the apparent giveaway to many in the audience whom the awardee would be. Cox is best known as the state representative for the 39th Kansas House District from 1992-2006.

"Say it with me," Smith said at the end of his introductory speech summing up Cox's list of accomplishments and contributions to the community.

The crowd of about 135 obliged, and in unison said "Ray Cox!" as the man of the hour put his face in his hands.

"I am humbled and honored to join this group," Cox said, accepting the award from Smith. "Thank you very much."

After thanking his wife Judy for her support and the residents who helped in his door-to-door campaigning, Cox said, "people knew when I'd go down to the well" - (the speaker's spot in the Kansas House chamber - "I'd make my point and sit down. That's what I'm gonna do now he said, and did just that.

He received a standing ovation.

Among the other highlights of Cox's biography that Smith listed were:

¢ Serving as vice principal at Bonner Springs High School

¢ President of the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Bonner Springs Economic Development Council and Bonner Springs Industrial Development Inc., and twice president of the Bonner Springs Lions club

¢ Serving as a member the USD 204 Board of Education for four years

¢ Establishment of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome family counseling program in Kansas.

Preceding the award to Cox was a speech by David Warm, Executive Director of the Mid-America Regional Council, and a proclamation honoring Louisa Fletcher, a longtime civil rights and community leader. See Thursday's Chieftain for more on the banquet and Tiblow Days.