BY FRANK SOJAK
JOHNSTOWN —
FSOJAK@TRIBDEM.COM
About 350 members of the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce gathered Thursday night to celebrate the organization’s 100th birthday over dinner.
The dinner, the Chamber’s largest fundraiser, was held at the Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johns-town.
The guest speaker was Jerry Markbreit of Chicago, a former National Football League referee who officiated four Super Bowl games during his 23 years in the league.
The Tribune-Democrat was honored as the Chamber’s Cultural Affairs Honoree for its many years of fostering the culture and history of the region.
The event started with Dan Hummel of AmeriServ Financial welcoming everyone and was followed by Karen Soliday of the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Convention and Visitors Bureau singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Cambria County Commissioner P.J. Stevens asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the late U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha and then delivered the invocation.
Robert F. Layo, chamber president and chief executive officer, said that thanks to its members, the chamber had a good year in 2009 and with continued support will move forward this year.
Christine Cox, chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors, said they were pleased that state Sen. John Wozniak honored the chamber for its work with a proclamation from the Senate.
She said that the chamber could not exist without the hard work of its staff and many volunteers.
Mary Borkow, chairwoman of the Cultural Affairs Committee, presented the Cultural Affairs award to Robin Quillon, publisher of The Tribune-Democrat.
Borkow said the newspaper has fostered local culture and history by publishing books on topics such as churches, the 1977 Flood and professional hockey in Johnstown.
Quillon, in accepting the award, congratulated the chamber on its 100 years and said the newspaper is proud of its 154-year heritage and place within the wonderful community that it calls home.
“We will, without hesitation, proudly continue to foster and promote a greater appreciation for the arts because we recognize that without the arts, we would not have those precious snapshots in time that capture a region’s culture and essence,” he said.
Markbreit told the crowd numerous stories about career as a referee in the NFL and equated it to any profession.
He said to be successful you have to possess humility, humor, kindness and toughness.
Cox said Markbreit was a wonderful speaker and thanked AmeriServ Financial for sponsoring his appearance.
“Whether you are a sports fan or not, something he said touched you tonight in a special way,” she said.
Rich Calpin, a shipper for Johnstown Wire Technologies, said he watched many games that Markbreit officiated. He said Markbreit was an entertaining speaker. He also said the chamber does a good job of serving members.
Albert J. Kovatich, president of Global Systems LLC, a cancer diagnostic laboratory in Windber, said Markbreit’s speech was very stimulating.
“If you can take his message of heart, toughness and humor, you will do well in life,” he said.
