Former Hamilton County Parks and Recreation (HCPR) Parks Board President, Andrew “Terry” Prather, was recently honored at the department’s administrative office in a special ceremony and reception.
The event was attended by a large contingency of elected officials, civic leaders, parks board members, leadership and staff, as well as family and friends of the humble man who has served the community he loves for more than five decades. Guests gathered to recognize the selfless contributions Mr. Prather has made, beginning with his coaching in the Carmel Pups youth football program and leading up to the leadership role he undertook during the early, formative years of the county parks department.
During the ceremony, County Commissioners Christine Altman and Steve Dillinger issued Mr. Prather the prestigious Hamilton County Continental Award, and County Council members Brad Beaver, Mark Hall, and Steve Nation were on hand to present him with a plaque containing a formal declaration of appreciation from the council on behalf of the Hamilton County community.
Mr. Prather (left) receiving the county’s coveted Continental Award from Commissioners Steve Dillinger and Christine Altman. (Photo provided by Hamilton County Parks & Recreation)
County Council members Brad Beaver (left), Steve Nation (second from right), and Mark Hall (right) presented Mr. Prather a Hamilton County Council Appreciation Award for his decades of community service. (Photo provided by Hamilton County Parks & Recreation)
HCPR Director Chris Stice presented the past parks board president a commemorative medallion for Mr. Prather’s 37 years of uninterrupted service to HCPR.
The highlight of the evening came when the commissioners, council members, parks board members, and leadership informed Mr. Prather that the county was bestowing upon him the honor of renaming River Road Park to Prather Park. He and his wife Donna and their daughters Andrea and Kim were then presented scaled-down replicas of the park’s future entrance signs that will feature the Prather name.
Mr. Prather’s daughters Andrea and Kim (left) and wife Donna (right) flanked Terry while proudly displaying the replica park sign mementos they received during the special recognition ceremony. (Photo provided by Hamilton County Parks & Recreation)
HCPR officials stated that the timing of the park’s public rededication ceremony and on site unveiling of its new signage will be announced at a later date.
Learn more about HCPR at MyHamiltonCountyParks.com, call (317) 770-4400, or follow the department on Facebook.