half of 2006 The Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet on Thursday, January 11, at 7 p.m. in the LCHS Cafeteria.

The guest speaker for the occasion is S. Truett Cathy, founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States.

Cathy started the business in 1946, when he and his brother, Ben, opened an Atlanta diner known as The Dwarf Grill, later renamed The Dwarf House. Over the years the restaurant prospered and led Cathy to further the success of his business by opening the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta's Greenbriar Shopping Center in 1967. Currently, there are more than 1,250 restaurants in 37 states and Washington, D.C. Remarkably, Cathy has led Chick-fil-A to an unparalleled record of 38 consecutive years of annual sales increases.

Moreover, he has received countless awards over the years such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Poultry & Food Distributors Association, the Norman Vincent and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, and the Horatio Alger Award from the Horatio Alger Association in Washington, D.C.

Cathy is also the author of several books including "Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People," "It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail," and "It's Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men."

Cathy's approach is largely driven by personal satisfaction and a sense of obligation to the community and its young people.

A devoutly religious man, Cathy has based his life and business on hard work, humanity, and Biblical principles. Based on these principles, all of Chick-fil-A's restaurants operate on a "closed-on- Sunday" policy - without exception.

When he is not managing his company, Cathy donates his time to community efforts and teaches a Sunday School class comprised of 13-year-old boys - as he has done for nearly 50 years.

The Chick-fil-A founder and his wife, Jeannette, have three children, 12 grandchildren, and more than 150 "foster grandchildren."

In addition to Cathy, another highlight of the chamber banquet will be the presentation of the Lincolnton- Lincoln County Community Service Awards which include EMT of the Year, Policeman of the Year, Deputy of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Fireman of the Year.

Other groups and individuals who will be recognized during the course of the evening are Bruce Beggs, grand marshal of the 2006 Lincolnton Holiday Parade; the 2006 Chamber Board of Directors; the Director of the Year; and the new directors for 2007.

Tickets for the banquet are $15 each and may be purchased from any chamber director or at the chamber office located in the Blanchard House at 112 N. Washington Street. The deadline is Monday, January 8, at 5 p.m. Furthermore, tables for six to eight people may be reserved by calling the chamber at 706-359-7970.

The public is cordially invited to attend.