Attendees filled the cars of the Tweetsie Railroad train on Tuesday as part of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s 63rd annual meeting, which drew 300 people in boots, chaps and hats for a cowboy-themed event.

The meeting is held annually to install a new board of directors, recognize program partners and present awards to members of the business community.

Daniel Minton of Denton Insurance Agency was installed for a one-year term as the new chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, replacing outgoing chairman Omer Tomlinson.

Minton thanked Tomlinson for his year of service and said, “Thanks to each one of you who make daily contributions to the area’s economic health and our quality of life.”

At Tweetsie, chamber members enjoyed a barbecue buffet dinner under a large tent. Following dinner, attendees boarded the attraction’s train, stopping along the way for performances by Tweetsie’s costumed actors and presentations of chamber awards.

Receiving the Wade Brown Award for Community Recognition was 100-year-old Robert Shipley, who was born in Valle Crucis in 1912, taught at Cove Creek and Watauga high schools until 1977.

He has been an active member of the Mountaineer Ruritan Club and is the lone remaining charter member of the Boone Rotary Club.

He has been a member of Henson Chapel United Methodist Church, and his family farm has operated for more than 140 years.

“A life well-lived … for his family and for our community,” said chamber President Dan Meyer.

The Alfred Adams Award for Economic Development, which recognizes individuals or organizations who have worked for the orderly growth and development of Boone and Watauga County, was awarded to the Boone Town Council. Meyer’s comments recognized the town’s efforts to secure a new water supply source on the South Fork of the New River.

“Boone’s water supply is not just critical to Boone, but to Blowing Rock and Appalachian State University … It has further impact if we ever hope to expand business development into the ETJ and Watauga County,” Meyer said.

The Ben Suttle Special Services Award for Volunteerism was posthumously awarded to Brian Newell, who passed away earlier this year. Newell, who worked in restaurants, hospitality and media services, served on the Boone Town Council, Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Development Authority, Watauga Education Foundation, Employment Security Commission and Boone Optimist Club. He was also a Mason and a volunteer coach for Watauga County Parks and Recreation.

Tomlinson described him as “a businessman who loved the community and often gave back with countless volunteer hours.”

Eric Woolridge, director of tourism planning for the Watauga County and Boone tourism development authorities, was the recipient of the Sue Wilmoth Award for the Advancement of Tourism.

“One of his strengths is his outstanding grant writing skills, and he has been extremely successful at securing grants to help leverage the tourism development funds on many tourism projects,” said Meyer.

Woolridge helped organize a March 2010 Outdoor Recreation Summit, wrote and developed the Boone Area Outdoor Recreation Plan, secured more than $550,000 in grant funding for Rocky Knob Park and has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funds for trail and river access development and improvements.

Woolridge also helped develop a master plan for improvements to Daniel Boone Park, which includes the Horn in the West amphitheater.

Brian Crutchfield was the recipient of the everGREEN Award for Leadership in Sustainability. Crutchfield, who retired this year as the director of sustainable development for Blue Ridge Electric, is knowledgeable about rebates and tax incentives for energy-efficient technologies, was involved in the county’s landfill methane-to-electricity project, is an active member of Boone Green Drinks and helped leverage more than $250 million in corporate investments during a 30-year career.

In June, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce recruited 200 new members as part of its membership drive.