ST. GEORGE — Longtime St. George radio personality Carl Lamar had the dual honor of earning a prestigious award and getting it named after him.
During the 4th of July Celebration with Kelsea Ballerini at Greater Zion Stadium, Lamar will receive public recognition for the first annual Community Patriot Award in recognition of his patriotic contributions to the St. George community.
“In recognition of 35 years of serving Southern Utah with a legacy of honoring America with a pioneering spirit of service and kindness, Canyon Media presents the first annual Community Patriot Award to Carl Lamar,” Canyon Media Chief Operating Officer Ben Lindquist said while presenting the award last week.
“From here on, this award will be known as the Carl Lamar Community Patriot Award,” Lindquist added. “This annual award will be in honor of an individual in our community who represents the values, patriotism and legacy exemplified by Carl Lamar.”
99.9 KONY Country radio star Amy Chesley told St. George News that she couldn’t think of a more deserving namesake for the inaugural Community Patriot Award.
“What a better person to give it to than Carl Lamar,” Chesley said. “He’s been in the community for years and years; everyone knows Carl. I think that it’s a great award to start off with Carl on.”
She added that the award symbolizes how much work Lamar has put into the community.
“He started KONY Country, so that to me shows how much he’s been involved,” Chesley said. “Especially with the 4th of July as well, 35 years. Someone that works year after year, doesn’t complain. He shows up, puts in a lot of work. That’s pretty cool.”
Chesley has worked with Lamar for the last eight years, including on-air shows and off-air promotions.
“I learned a lot from him, and he was like my dad, mentoring me,” she said. “That was pretty amazing.”
Lamar has long advocated love of country, and his patriotism is evident in his energetic radio programs and in his service to the community.
As seen in the video above, Lamar was on the ground floor of the first 4th of July celebrations in St. George, going from the historic Sun Bowl to Greater Zion Stadium and getting bigger and better each year.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.