Roast and toasts ahead for Aggie

Texas A&M; alum Randy Torres will be the recepient of this year’s Outstanding Civic Leadership Award

Michael Burchfiel/Herald-Leader Randy Torres is the honoree of the 2017 Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Civic Leadership Event on Thursday.
Michael Burchfiel/Herald-Leader Randy Torres is the honoree of the 2017 Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Civic Leadership Event on Thursday.

On Thursday night, the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce and guests will get together for a night to honor and laugh with Randy Torres, who was named the recipient of the chamber's Outstanding Civic Leadership Award.

"You know, when they first came to visit me, I thought they were asking me to MC the event," said Torres, who serves as the master of ceremonies at events around the community. "First thing that went through my mind was, 'this is a fundraiser. Who's gonna buy tickets to come see me?'"

Thursday's event, the chamber's 10th annual Outstanding Civic Leadership Event, promises to be an entertaining affair. The event is at the Cyprus Barn in Siloam Springs at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale on the chamber's website.

"I thought it was a great pick," said Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Wayne Mays, who approved the choice by the chamber's selection committee.

"I know right now that the night of the 21st, Randy is going to be one of the most genuinely humorous and accepting individuals of the roasting and toasting that will go on, and it will be more fun to roast and toast Randy than almost anybody we've ever done," said Mays.

There are two reasons that Mays said Torres would be a great fit for the OCLE. The first reason is that Torres is a genuine person who cares about those around him and has given so much to the city and chamber. The second, which will surely come to light during the event is that Torres is a funny and engaging personality. Also, Torres is well-known as a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks' opponent on the football field two days after the event -- Texas A&M.

The Razorbacks play the Aggies in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday morning.

"If I was going to be one of the roasters, all I could say is that I question his choice of university alma mater," Mays said. "I believe it is safe to say there will be a lot of trash talking."

Torres has made his mark on Siloam Springs in the past 16 years, since he arrived to do graduate work at John Brown University in 2001. During that time, Torres worked as the community pastor at Fellowship Bible Church part time, and worked to help recruit graduate students at JBU.

Torres then started his involvement as a chamber ambassador, where he worked to welcome new businesses to the city. When he began working at Arvest Bank, his involvement in the chamber and the community only grew. In the time he has been in Siloam Springs, Torres has volunteered for the Dogwood Literacy Council, New Life Ranch, the Boys and Girls Club and the JBU Care Clinic, among others. Torres was also the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2012.

"He is a genuinely warm and friendly guy, and that personality makes him a very good fit for a lot of positions," said Mays. "We want people out on the front lines representing us, and Randy Torres is the best I've ever seen."

"He is genuinely engaged in the community because he sees the benefit in it. And the beauty of it is, he gives more to the the community than he gets back," Mays said.

"He gives a lot of feedback to people, a lot of encouragement to people. We could use a lot more like that."

"Randy is a very energetic person, never met a stranger, lover of all people," said Scott Shaw, Director of Development at New Life Ranch, where Torres has been involved for the past seven years.

Shaw said he wasn't surprised at all to learn Torres had been named this year's OCLE honoree.

"Randy is a pillar of the community in Siloam Springs," Shaw said. "He brings a lot to the community of Siloam Springs."

Torres was one of the first people Shaw asked to join the Northwest Arkansas Development Committee, where he still serves. Shaw said Torres brought a great mind for problem solving and connection to the organization.

"Randy is very creative in his thinking and his ways, and brings unique perspective to things that we hadn't thought about," Shaw said. "He also is a great connector. He brings a unique, creative perspective. He's a great face and a great advocate for the ministry of New Life Ranch."

Torres said he never meant to end up living in Siloam Springs for an extended period of time. Torres intended to go to grad school at JBU and then go home where his family lives in Texas, but instead he fell in love with the people of Siloam Springs, he said.

Torres was attracted to a city with great people with a high work ethic and a great education system. But most of all, Torres said he saw a spirit of continual improvement in the city, where people were working to make life better and gave selflessly to the community.

"I am elated," Torres said. "I love this community and to be recognized by it, it's just more than I could imagine."

"The thing that I've seen most about Siloam Springs is that it has a can-do spirit and it's amazing to see that people will pull together and help each other," Torres said. "We are choosing to grow healthy. It's such an advantage to live in this community."

In addition to the above listed volunteering, Torres often helps MC events and host cookouts for special occasions.

"I probably have fed everybody in the community a hot dog," Torres said.

Torres lives in Siloam Springs with his wife Molly, who grew up in Alma and went to JBU. The pair work on a farm that they own south of town.

"She is extremely helpful for everything I do," Torres said.

The pair have two children, a 20-year-old daughter Allison, who is studying public health at Texas A&M, and 18-year-old Christian, who is at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith studying surgical technology.

But for all of Torres' contributions, most people in Siloam Springs, including Shaw, will tell you there is still one problem with him.

"His only fault," Shaw said, "is that he's a Texas A&M Aggie fan."

General News on 09/20/2017