First 'Hubert Award' goes to namesakes

Lloyd Benjamin, center, presented the first Hubert Award to John and Eileen Hubert Saturday night. (Courtesy photo)

McCOOK, Nebraskas -- A new award to honor those who work to advance the visual and performing arts was presented to its namesake at Saturday night's Buffalo Commons performances at the Fox Theatre.

Presented by Lloyd and Elizabeth Benjamin of the Alliance for the Encouragement of the Visual and Performing Arts, the award went to John and Eileen Hubert.

"Southwest Nebraska is typical of most rural areas in Midwest USA where the people that live here have a great love of God, country, family, neighbor, and community, This is visible in their efforts to make the community a better place for all to live," Lloyd Benjamin said.

"In the McCook community this effort, or as I call it 'The Giving of Ourselves,' is alive and well as it exists in both visible and invisible forms and generally the individual providing the effort does not desire recognition.

"One of the visible forms of this 'Giving of Ourselves' is this theatre that we are in this evening as it exists as McCook's community theatre due to the vision and generosity of one couple: John and Eileen Hubert.

"Elizabeth and I are here this evening as representatives of the Alliance for the Encouragement of the Visual and Performing Arts -- AEVPA -- better known to the McCook community as the "Fox Theatre Board" to announce the establishment of the Hubert Award in honor of John and Eileen Hubert.

The award is to be given to individuals or other entities in the community who have provided leadership and exemplary service to the visual and performing arts in the McCook area, he said. The 25 stars on the front of the theatre above the marquee will be named for the first 25 award recipients.