by Mary Jo Tesitor
TRINIDAD — Saturday was a night of superlatives as members of the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce met at Mt. Carmel’s Primero Cafe to present the 2015 J. Edgar Chenowith Award to the best and brightest of Las Animas County. The 19 individual or family nominees were brought to the attention of the selection committee because they represent the traits which Chenowith, a Trinidad native and U.S. Representative (1941-49, 1951-65) embodied: outstanding community service, honor, dedication, and caring for the community of Trinidad.
This year’s nominations were reviewed by a committee of former Chenowith awardees, led by lthe 2012 winner, Tom Perry. Finalists were submitted to the Chamber of Commerce board who were tasked with choosing the 2015 awardee. Those among the field of nominees were described as “creating a positive work environment”, “caring for the community”, “seeing what is noble pure and good in Trinidad”, “helping to make the community a better place to live”, “creating small ripples of positive energy”, and “having a passion and love for Trinidad”, and were characterized as having honor, valor, dedication, and generosity.
From this field of exemplary citizens, living and deceased, men and women, in business and in the non-profit world, the family of Ed and Karen Griego and their daughter, Kathleen, were selected to best typify the Chenowith ideal. The Griegos are long-time owners and operators of Griego Insurance, and daughter Kathleen Griego owns and operates the Trinidad Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers franchise. Through the years, the Griegos have served on innumerable boards in Trinidad and Las Animas County that support and encourage tourism, commerce, education, philanthropy and volunteerism. Kathleen Griego said her family did what they did for “the love of Trinidad and the love of being here.” Karen thanked Trinidad for helping them to succeed by being “a nurturing community.”
In his acceptance, Ed Griego said, “We’ve been in a group of people who work well together; we’re one link in a very long chain. We’ve always believed in honesty, pride, hard work and strong cooperation, and that you must find your passion and discover your purpose.” He said their family was honored to be chosen from such a “broad and wonderful field of nominees, and to now be among the fraternity of past awardees.” He said he and Karen “chose Trinidad and have the honor to be able to share life with this community, all for one and one for all.” Beyond that, he joked, “I yam what I yam!”
