Local Organizer Joan Kelly Receives Be Remarkable Award in Copperas Cove

Joan Kelly was presented with a Be Remarkable award and a $500 check on December 1, recognizing her work organizing the Ogletree Gap festival, her role in the Copperas Cove historical society, and her contributions as an employee at a local drug store and owner of a new business. The award, given on behalf of a sponsoring law firm, singled out Kelly for the combination of civic leadership and small business entrepreneurship that community organizers provide.

Kelly has been involved in planning community events that bring residents together and create short term demand for local merchants. The Ogletree Gap festival in particular was credited with drawing participants and fostering cooperation among organizations. Former council member, current school board member and historical society member John Gallen nominated Kelly and praised her role in getting the festival off the ground. He said, “She did a fantastic job of pulling us all together as a group, and getting that festival off the ground. She really was the driving force behind it here, this is the way we’re going to do things, and we had an extremely successful festival.”

Kelly framed her work in terms of preserving local memory and civic continuity. She said, “I think it’s important that everybody knows the history and to continue it, as long as they can. We don’t want something like that dying now and being forgotten.” Those remarks underscore why historical societies and community festivals matter beyond celebration. They help maintain civic identity, support small scale tourism, and can generate modest but meaningful spending at local shops and services.

For Copperas Cove residents, the recognition of a local volunteer and small business owner highlights how individual initiative supports broader economic and cultural life. Community members who want to nominate other local people for future recognitions can submit names and information at kwtx.com/beremarkable.