Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Every year the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Theta Nu Lambda Chapter in LaGrange present a Citizen of the Year to an outstanding resident. This year the fraternity selected LaGrange Mayor W.T. Edmondson as their Citizen of the Year for his many years of service to the city.

Member Alton West said Edmondson was an easy selection for all he has done for the community. West also serves the city as community development director.

“We look at people that have made contributions to our community that help people in various ways. We just thought that Dr. Edmondson was fitting for our Citizen of the Year this year, having been elected as mayor in a special election and having served for over 20 years,” West said.

Edmondson’s business, Lakes Dunson Robertson Funeral Home, was also presented an award for its generous contributions to the community.

“The second award was for sponsoring scholarships,” West said.

“He helped us to fund scholarships for young men from the Coweta, Meriwether and Troup County area, which is our service area.”

With those scholarships, the fraternity was able to give away $2,500 to deserving students, West said.

“We gave each individual a laptop, and we gave them a tailor-made suit for them to go off to college. His sponsorship helped us to make that possible for those individuals in our community,” West said.

West said they planned to give Edmondson the awards at their annual All White Affair party in Newnan on July 15, but he was not able to attend because he came down with the flu.

Edmonson was presented with both awards in front of city hall after the council work session.