flag Chamber selects Louise Yellowman as Athena Award recipient

Athena Award founder Martha Mertz, left, congratulates Louise Yellowman after receiving her reward.	When she received the Athena Award on Nov. 16, Louise Yellowman, thanked many for supporting her, including Coconino County Manager Steve Peru.	Title sponsor since the local award's 1989 inception, LaVelle McCoy, owner of McCoy Motors, announced Louise Yellowman as 2006 Athena Award recipient.

Flagstaff ─ On Nov. 16,  Coconino County Supervisor Louise Yellowman became the 2006 Athena Award recipient for the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. The 16^th annual awards dinner took place at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel here in town.ellowman, the first woman and, to date, the only Native American to serve as a Coconino County Supervisor is currently in her 26th consecutive year of office.

Improvements during her tenure cover a wide variety of items such as the Lake Powell Medical Clinic, funding for the elderly and youth, a county extension office, solid waster transfer station on the Rez, uranium mine cleanup and closure, maintenance of rural county roads, protection of Navajo sovereignty and water rights.

During her acceptance speech, Yellowman acknowledged many who helped her along the way and stressed the importance of education.

Yellowman did not begin her formal education until she was 14, but went on graduate from college, earning a master’s degree from Northern Arizona &University.

During the 31 years Yellowman served as educator, she introduced the K-4 Bilingual Navajo Program to the local Head Start Program and persistently urged the construction of schools in Cameron and the Gap.

Several family members and friends were on hand to wish Yellowman well including her husband Frank Yellowman, her son Don Yellowman, three of her four daughters, Debbie Yellowman, Michelle Tso and Marilyn Yellowman, as well as three grandsons, Joshua Tso, Raine Mathias and Joey Mathias.

Athena Award founder Martha Mertz was also present. The 2006 Athena award nominees for Flagstaff included:

·           Catherine Allen, Commander Administrative Services Coconino County Sheriff’s Office           

·           Detective Margaret A. Bentzen, Family Crimes Unit Coordinator Flagstaff Police Department.

·           Karen Cooper, City Council Member, Flagstaff, Ariz.

·           Dr. Loretta P. Mayer, Director of Research/Chairman of the Board, SenesTech. Inc.

·           Barbara Packard, owner of Packard & Sons Development in Munds Park.

Many of Louise Yellowman's proud family members attended the Flagstaff Chamber Athena Awards dinner, including her husband Frank Yellowman.	Several family members and Athena Award founder Martha Mertz flank Supervisor Yellowman, center.	During her speech, Supervisor Yellowman, 2006 Flagstaff Chamber Athena Award recipient, acknowledged many who helped her along the way.
Two of Louise Yellowman's daughters were also on hand to congratulate her for winning the 2006 Athena Award.	A grandson, left, son Don Yellowman, Louise Yellowman and her husband Frank at the Athena Awards dinner held at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel.	Robert Tohe, Sierra Club’s Arizona Environmental Justice Grassroots Program organizer, congratulates Supervisor Yellowman.

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Last modified: August 04, 2008