KEMMERER — The third annual Golden Rule Day and Community Picnic was held on Thursday, Aug. 22, at Triangle Park in downtown Kemmerer. Two local residents, Andrew Burg and Jessica Witbeck, were presented Golden Rule awards for community service and practicing the Golden Rule.

Prior to a free barbecue prepared by Mayor Bill Thek and members of the city council Kemmerer Director of Recreation and Events Trista Gordon took the stage to read the nomination letters for each of the winners and then presented each with a basket of gifts and an award certificate.

Burg’s nomination letter read as follows: “For over 40 years he operated a successful business in Kemmerer living the Golden Rule every day. He treated his customers with respect; treating them the same way he would want to be treated. Many times, he would help a stranded motorist on nights and weekends or in a blizzard when it would be easier to just stay home. He sacrificed time with his family to make sure people could get home to theirs. He made sure they had somewhere to stay while waiting for family or friends. Many times, he just sat with someone after they had been in an accident not knowing what to do next. He did this without recognition because it is the right thing to do. He still lives the Golden Rule today and helps where he can in his community.”

Witbeck’s nomination letter read as follows: “Jessica is very involved in the Hams Fork 4-H Club. She is a project leader for several of the activities within the group; fundraising and taking kids to various activities within the club. This club couldn’t be done without the tremendous involvement of Jessica. Also, she is a very kind person and wants to see the best in each individual involved in 4-H [with] hands-on activities that make these kids life-long learners and better citizens.”

Both Burg and Witbeck were given a loud round of applause from those attending the event.

Along with the award ceremony, J.C. Penney Government Relations Officer Angela Marshall Hofmann presented the director and team of the J.C. Penney Homestead with a donation of $10,000 for the upkeep and continued preservation of the original home of J.C. Penney in Kemmerer.

Steve Strom from Golden, Colorado, who is president of the J.C. Penney HCSC (Honor, Confidence, Service and Cooperation) alumni club, also gave a short speech, thanking the people of Kemmerer for their support and dedication to the memory of James Cash Penney.

After the event, Strom said the club tries to encourage all of their members — 1,800 of them nationwide — to attend either the annual celebration in Kemmerer or the one in Hamilton, Missouri, in September.

Hamilton, Missouri, is the birth place of Penney, and is where he grew up and owned farms. Strom said that, along with club members, some residents of the Penney retirement community in Penney Farms, Florida, often attend the events. He said in 2026, it will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the J.C. Penney stores, and there will be huge celebrations in Kemmerer, Hamilton and at Penney Farms.

Other activities during the day in Kemmerer included a tour of the sites of the original Golden Rule stores, the site of the first J.C. Penney store and the Homestead. The tour was led by David Delbert Kruger, author of the book “J.C. Penney: the Man, the Store, and American Agriculture.” A planned dedication of a plaque that would be placed next to the J.C. Penney statue was canceled because the plaque didn’t arrive in time, so the dedication will take place at a later date.

Following the donation award, and the Golden Rule awards, the city council members and mayor served a large crowd hamburgers, chips and side dishes.

“The City of Kemmerer, the Town of Diamondville and Lincoln County are happy to partner together for the Golden Rule Community Picnic,” Gordon said. “We are appreciative of J.C. Penney corporate for wanting to be a part of the community, and we are thankful for the friendships made with members of the HCSC Alumni Club.”