Bob Hawks is the Moab Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year, and Emery Telcom is its Business of the Year.
The chamber recognized both awards recipients during its annual fall banquet at Red Cliffs Lodge on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Hawks, who owned and operated Bob’s Sanitation until he recently sold his company, served many businesses and citizens in the Moab area for more than 45 years.
Early on, Hawks drove a truck for a mine. He soon decided that he wanted to own his own truck – but didn’t want to be away from home – so he bid on the garbage service and was granted the contract, leading to the creation of Bob’s Sanitation.
“Bob always shops local and feels it is so important to support the local people that support him,” the chamber said in a statement. “You can always find him smiling and waving when he passes you on the street or just about anywhere. Serving the community of Moab was his expertise!”
Emery Telcom is a cooperative telecommunications service provider in southeastern Utah. The company has been providing service to Emery County since 1950, and later expanded into Carbon, Grand and San Juan counties. It employs approximately 100 people, and offers Digital Voice, high-speed broadband internet and cable TV services.
Emery Telcom began deploying fiber throughout its network in 1990. Since then, it has connected all of the communities within its service area with state-of-the-art fiber optics.
In Moab, Emery Telcom has donated more than $8,000 to community programs and events over the year and offers free WiFi to several festivals and events. It also gives three $1,000 scholarships each year to high school seniors to further their education.
