The Douglas County Chamber of Commerce gaves awards for community service and honored the community’s top citizen, small and large businesses during its 68th Annual Awards Banquet Saturday at The Centre at Arbor Connection in Douglasville.

The Chamber’s “Lucky ‘13” Annual Awards Banquet sold out with more than 400 people gathered for an evening filled with good fortune.

While the food served by Sam & Rosco’s Restaurant and endless silent auction items were hot topics at the event, the buzz about the awards was contagious. John Sell, the 2013 Chamber Chairman, and former 2012 Chairman Alan Smith presented awards to outstanding members of the community including:

•Douglas County Citizen of the Year, John Stone;

•Small Business of the Year, Gold’s Gym of Douglasville;

•Large Business of the Year, Google;

•Diplomat of the Year, Omar Daniel with Diane Daniel Enterprises;

•Chamber Spirit Award, Athena Bryant with Bank of North Georgia;

•Sam P. Roberts Community Service Award to Valerie Howell of Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio.

The annual awards banquet was sponsored by Presenting Sponsor Georgia Power; and Gold Sponsors, the city of Douglasville, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Google Inc., GreyStone Power Corp., Metro Bank, Sam & Rosco’s Restaurant, WellStar Douglas Hospital, and West Georgia Technical College.

Silver Sponsors included American Red Cross, Ameriprise Financial – Patti H. Puckett, AT&T, Bank of North Georgia, Development Authority of Douglas County, Gas South, Georgia Highlands College, Hawkinson, Muchnick & Associates, Kaiser Permanente, and Piedmont Heart Institute.