Upper photo, (L-R): Chris Schlabach, Jack Brennan and Nancy Brennan accept Gila Hike & Bike's Sonny Brown "Small Business of the Year Award" from Rotarian Kathy Eaton and Rotary Club President Peter Falley.

Lower photo, (L-R): Drew Terry, Toyota Representative, Kevin Kavanagh and Paul Leetmae of Lawley Toyota receive the Sonny Brown "Large Business of the Year Award" from Kathy Eaton and Peter Falley.

Lawley Automotive and Gila Hike & Bike received Sonny Brown Business of the Year awards from the Rotary Club of Silver City on Tuesday, making them two of only four businesses in Rotary District 5520 to receive these honors. The Sonny Brown "Business of the Year" awards went to Lawley Automotive (for Large Business of the Year) and to Gila Hike & Bike (Small Business of the Year) following nominations submitted to the District Awards Committee by the Silver City Rotary Club. Rotary District 5520 is made up of 70 Rotary clubs throughout the state of New Mexico and eight counties in west Texas.

The Sonny Brown Business of the Year award was established in 2005, Rotary's Centennial Year, to honor Past District Governor Sonny Brown of El Paso for his many years of service to Rotary International and to District 5520. The award recognizes businesses in District 5520 that exemplify the high ethical standards of Rotary and demonstrate excellence in the areas of employee relations, quality of product or service, and community involvement by both management and employees.

In accepting the award Tuesday on behalf of Lawley Automotive, Paul Leetmae acknowledged his employees and his corporate partner, and called it a "privilege to be on the same stage" as Gila Hike & Bike, which he called "one of the best places in town." Jack Brennan accepted the award for Gila Hike & Bike and noted that Silver City captured two of the four Sonny Brown District Awards this year, stating "This shows a lot what Silver City is all about. We are an amazing small town that takes pride in doing things right."

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Silver City, Club President Peter Falley expressed appreciation to both award recipients for their outstanding service to the community.