He didn't plan to attend the annual banquet until a friend invited him to go along. And after it was over, Lewis Smith had received a lot more than a good dinner. Mr. Smith was named the 2009 Small Business Person of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday evening.
"I just want you to know this is a big surprise to me," Mr. Smith said as he accepted the award. "This is too much to live up to, so don't believe everything you hear."
Beth Grant of Thomson Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep introduced Mr. Smith, who opened his Certified Public Accountant firm in Thomson since 1987.
"He's a straight up kind of guy," she said. "He loves his God, he loves his family and he loves his country. ... We've watched his business grow and he's the person we call when we want someone to watch our money. ... He's a great business person and he's a great human being."
