TOP PHOTO:  Betty Snodderly shares a hug with grandson Cooper.

Jan. 21, 2020 was declared as Betty Snodderly Appreciation Day. Her family attended the celebration as well. Pictured is grandson Ian Lusby, son John Snodderly, daughter-in-law Raewyn Snodderly, grandson Cooper Lusby, daughter Amy Lusby, granddaughter Kennedy Lusby, Betty Snodderly, and granddaughter Nora Snodderly and grandson Zeke Snodderly.

By:  Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Betty Snodderly was honored by the County Commission on Tuesday evening for her many years of service with the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce.  Snodderly’s family showed up to be part of the big surprise.

Betty Snodderly was honored Tuesday evening for her many years of service with the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce.

“I had no clue what they were planning,” Betty said. Her son John Snodderly had told her he was going to be speaking about housing at the meeting and asked her to come listen. “That was a little fib,” Betty’s granddaughter Nora said.

County Commissioner Rusty Orick presented Betty Snodderly with a plaque of appreciation stating Jan. 21 2020 as Betty Snodderly Appreciation Day. Commissioners gave her a standing ovation.

The commission declared Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 officially as Betty Snodderly Appreciation Day. The certificate and declaration is in honor of her efforts both at the chamber of commerce and in the community as well. Commissioner Rusty Orick read the proclamation out loud and spoke of Snodderly’s accomplishments. “She is one of Campbell County’s most cherished citizens, one who continually demonstrated her respect and affection for her county, her church and her legion of friends,” Orick said. He and the other commissioners credited Snodderly’s two decades worth of efforts in promoting the county’s business and economic opportunities in establishing the “strong foundation” at the chamber of commerce. Snodderly began as a volunteer at the chamber and gave two years of her time and efforts before becoming a paid employee.”Across two decades of dedication, she built a solid foundation on which the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce stands and it is successful and thriving today,” Orick said. Snodderly retired from the chamber of commerce in 2009 and has spent the last 11 years working part-time at the customer service department at LaFollette Utilities, attending community events and “being a loving mother and grandmother.”  “Her community accomplishments, and time as a wife, mother and grandmother has been a focus of her pride and an apex of her legacy,” Orick read aloud.

Betty’s son John Snodderly and grandson Zeke watched from the audience as she was honored at Tuesday’s county commission meeting.

Snodderly said she was touched by the award and that it had been “a pleasure to work at the chamber all those years.” She said when she first started volunteering at the chamber, it was “kind of down and out,” but after hard work and community effort, that soon changed. “This could not have happened had it not been for wonderful county mayors, wonderful commissioners, city mayors, our board of directors on the chamber and all of our volunteers that helped us just have some astronomical events that I couldn’t do had it not been for them,” Snodderly said. She also thanked her late husband ” because he helped the chamber financially when I first started and he encouraged me. I certainly didn’t do the job for the money; I did it because I love this county. We live in a beautiful county, we have Norris Lake, I-75 and so many wonderful citizens,” Snodderly said. She closed her statements with a challenge for everyone to “find someplace to volunteer… someplace to do something for your county.” “We just all need to get together. If everybody just does a little here, we will accomplish a lot.”

Betty Snodderly said she felt blessed to be surrounded by her grandchildren on her special day.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/22/2020-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLOTTE UNDERWOOD)