MORRILTON — Alvie Bryant of Morrilton is a unique young man, starting with his name.
“It’s James Alvie Bryant Jr. My grandpa’s name was Alvie Bryant, and they wanted to name me after my grandpa,” he said.
“I’ve met a couple of Alvies, and they were all pushing 90.”
The 17-year-old Bryant laughed good-naturedly.
His name is attached to an honor — Morrilton Youth Citizen of the Year.
Bryant will be honored Monday at the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce’s 86th annual banquet and awards ceremony.
“I was quite a bit surprised,” he said. “Cody Hill from the chamber called and told me about it.”
Bryant, the son of Jim and Rhonda Bryant, is a senior at Morrilton High School.
He also could be described as Mr. Band.
“I’m always doing something with the band,” he said. “Band is my big thing.”
Bryant is vice president of the band, with which he plays saxophone and has for seven years.
“I love music; I play music in my church,” (Morrilton Christian Center), he said. “I play drums and guitar in my church and sing a little bit.”
In addition to band, he is a member of the Student Council and has been in Dawg Trax, the school’s television production, for four years.
“I really enjoy it,” he said. “I get to meet a lot of people in the community and get a lot of opportunities through that. Dad does the video ministry at church, and I help him.”
Bryant said his pastor, Larry Miller, owns Morrilton Community Channel 6.
“He had me running the camera early on,” Bryant said, “and you learn to write stories first.”
Bryant said church is important in his life.
“I’ve been going there since I was in a baby carrier, and it’s like a second family to me,” he said.
He said church members have told him how proud they are of his award.
“I try to help out in any way I can,” he said.
The teenager volunteered with the Conway County Care Center, a thrift store and food bank, for three or four years. In 2009, he received the Stephen Clay Award from the center for having the most volunteer hours of any youth.
He makes good grades — he’s in the top 10 of about 150 students in his class, he said.
Bryant plans to attend the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and major in criminal justice.
“I’d eventually like to be a game warden,” he said. “I absolutely love to hunt.”
No matter what he does, people probably will remember his name.
“I like to make friends with anybody I meet, I guess. I’m very outgoing, I’d say.”
Morrilton’s Citizen of the Year, Judy Calhoun, is impressed with Bryant.
“That boy is fantastic; I love him to death,” she said.
The banquet will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Gymnasium in Morrilton.
Other award winners will also be recognized:
• Shannon Wright, a teacher at Wonderview, Educator of the Year;
• Hunter House Antiques, Business Site of the Year;
• Green Bay Packaging/Arkansas Kraft Training Facility, Educational Project of the Year;
• Community Service-First Tee Program, Community Project of the Year; and
• The Hudson family, Conway County Farm Family of the Year.
The Earle Love Business Leader of the Year will be announced at the banquet.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.