The Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2009 with 320 people attending its “Diamond Anniversary Gala.”

The event will be held Nov. 13 in Sam Houston State University’s Lowman Student Center Ballroom, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction.

The dinner and program start at 7:30 p.m.

The Chamber has sold out of 40 tables with eight people seated at each.

The Gala also features live and silent auction with proceeds from those benefiting the Mary Frances Park Scholarship Fund.

The Chamber gives a scholarship each year to a Walker County student to attend Sam Houston State University.

Laura Green, events and communications manager for the Chamber, said the Chamber has received 83 silent auction items so far and five items for the live auction.

Green said a bid number is needed to bid on either auction. A bid number can be requested by phoning (936) 295-8113.

Greg Smith will serve as auctioneer.

Auction items are listed on the Chamber’s Web site at www.chamber.huntsville.tx.us and clicking on Chamber events and Diamond Anniversary Gala.

Huntsville Memorial Hospital is sponsoring the auctions while Wiesner-Huntsville is the corporate sponsor and Weatherford International is the dinner sponsor.

Office manager Shannon Higbie said a Power Point presentation will feature historical photographs of the Chamber dating back to the 1930s to current board of directors.

Several awards will be given during the program.

The highlight of the Gala will be the presentation of the Mance Park Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former Huntsville High School head football coach Joe Clements was the 12th recipient of the award in 2008.

Previous winners are Bill Green, Raymond Davis, Col. M.B. Etheredge, Dr. Mary Frances Park, Frank Robinson, Dr. Bobby Marks, Rip Byrd, Ed Sandhop, Bill Nash, Douglas Bertling and Bill Hodges.

Robinson is the oldest living chairman of the board of directors and remains active in the Chamber, Rotary Club and selling real estate.

Robinson was elected chairman in 1966.

In 1925, the Retail Merchants Association was organized with S.S. Felder as chairman and the Chamber was organized with R.W. Miller as chairman.

The Chamber was chartered by the State of Texas with R.C. Steinberg as chairman.

Also during the Gala’s program, George Miles Jr. will take the gavel as the new chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors. He will replace Todd Armstrong.

The new chairman-elect will also be introduced.

New and outgoing directors will also be recognized.

Will Durham is retiring after serving five years on the board of directors, including a three-year director’s term, one year as chairman and one year as immediate past president.

Buddy Aber is also stepping down as a director after serving his second term of duty.

Durham and Aber will be given Distinguished Service Awards along with other outgoing directors Carol Sullivan, Joey Chandler, Karen Bilsing and David Rex.

Incoming directors are Jim Hodges, Conrad Liles, Cindy Pierce, Tommy Stewart, Weldon Wallace, and Tom Freeman, who will be filling an unexpired term in 2010.

Other awards to be given are to the Key Member of the Year, Director of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Community Service Award and Warm Welcome Award.