Mathis, Painter honored by Rotarains

GAINESVILLE - Bobby Painter and Frances Mathis were named the Gainesville Rotary Club&#39;s Man and Woman of the Year Monday night.<br> <br> They were honored at the club&#39;s annual banquet which was held at the Gainesville Civic Center.<br> <br> &#34;Ms. Mathis has a reputation of working mostly behind the scenes and is one of the founders and driving forces behind the Northeast Georgia History Center now under construction on the Brenau University campus,&#34; said Kit Dunlap. Dunlap, the present and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, made the presentation.<br> <br> Added Dr. John Burd, Brenau president, &#34;Most of all, Frances can be proud of having lived an exemplary life for her family, church, community, state and nation. She will not quit being such a servant until her last breath.&#34;<br> <br> Painter is a former United Way president who has held leadership positions in a number of other organizations, including the Gainesville College Foundation.<br> <br> &#34;He has been recognized by having been elected for his second term as president of the Johnson & Johnson Georgia Retirees Association,&#34; said Fleming Weaver, who was among many area citizens who nominated Painter for the award. Painter instituted a program to help company retirees lacking comptuer skills and another to assist seniors with limited incomes to obtain prescription drugs.<br> <br> &#34;He posseses a generous heart and an encouraging demeanor and offers a helpful hand with every undertaking to which he commits,&#34; said Painter&#39;s minister, Rev. Gerald Thurman.<br> <br> The club also presented Judge Sidney O. Smith Junior with its Sidney O. Smith Award, named after his late father. The award is given annual to an outstanding Rotary Club member.

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