A longtime Winamac businessman who is well-known for his generosity has been announced as the recipient of the 2013 Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce H.J. Halleck Award. Former chamber of commerce president David W. Barr owned and operated Winamac Cleaners and Laundry for many years. The business was Winamac’s first laundromat. While at the Chamber, Barr oversaw the groundbreaking for Control Company’s local plant, worked to recruit additional businesses and helped with Santa’s annual arrival and the sidewalk day sales for Winamac businesses. Barr also reactivated the city hostess program and helped to pay off the note on the swimming pool.
Barr also chaired the school board during the building process. He served as president of the Winamac Kiwanis Club during their 50th anniversary. Every Christmas he made sure local children had a good Christmas. He was also a member of the board at Bethel Bible Church where he helped build an addition.
Barr served 40 years as a Winamac volunteer firefighter, 11 of those as chief. During that time he took children through the fire house, visited the school, took part in parades and spent many hours at the fire station maintaining trucks and attending meetings.
Barr and his wife, Virginia, have been married for 61 years. They have three children: Craig, Chris and Randy; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He will be honored during the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on Friday, March 8 at the Winamac Event Center. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased by calling the chamber office at (574) 946-6123.
