With a large turnout of local partners and family, the Butler County Community Resource Council named historian Kati Ray as its 2024 Person of the Year at its annual partnership luncheon at Fellowship Church on Tuesday.
The CRC Board President Byron Beck also gave a speech emphasizing the importance of using one’s unique talents to the fullest.
“We function best when we function in the range of our gifts, strengths, and passions,” he asserted.
At the end of the event, Executive Director Rebeca Pacheco received a $250 donation from representatives of the Poplar Bluff Eagle’s Auxiliary as part of their Superhero Challenge.
Director of the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department Lanny Corcimiglia presented Ray with the Person of the Year award.
“In a world that often seems to be moving so rapidly, our local historian reminds us of the importance of slowing down, taking the time to appreciate the stories that have shaped us into who we are today,” he remarked.
Ray serves as a board member and volunteer for the Poplar Bluff Museum and leads increasingly popular historical walking tours of the city. She also has written a book detailing Poplar Bluff’s harrowing experience with the 1927 tornado. Corcimiglia affirmed, “Her passion is infectious, her enthusiasm boundless, and her commitment unwavering.”
He stated Ray spends hours researching local stories to ensure her four walking tours are an engaging and unforgettable experience. A Poplar Bluff native, Ray once vowed to never return. However, she said she came back for the generous and hardworking residents of her hometown.
“It always comes down to the people,” Ray said. She credited God for the award and thanked her husband, Steve, for his support through the years.
“This is just crazy,” Ray exclaimed.