UPCCA's 20th Anniversary Gala, An Evening to Remember

It was an evening to celebrate the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association's 20th anniversary - and to pay tribute to Paul Duke, the man whose vision eventually lead to the formation of Gwinnett County's newest city.

"Peachtree Corners was Paul Duke's dream," said Scott Hilton, the current president of the two-decade old organization made up of home owners associations throughout the city. "UPCCA took that dream and accomplished his dream."

The festive evening, held at the Marriott on Peachtree Parkway where over 100 guests attended, included dinner, a special video produced by Scott Howard, a life-long Peachtree Corners resident, a Cake & Candle Lighting ceremony and a presentation of Star Awards and capped off by music and dancing.

Star Awards recipients were:

Scott Howard: the Norcross High School graduate is pursuing a master's degree in moving images from Georgia State University and produced several short films including the one shown during the UPCCA's Gala. He received the Rising Star Award.

Dr. Beverly Smith: Principal at Peachtree Elementary, began her teaching career at the Peachtree Corners school in 1974 as a Georgia State University student, her career took her to other teaching positions before returning in 2009 to the school where her teaching career began. Dr. Smith received UPCCA's Community Partner Award.

Mike Mason: A Peachtree Corners resident for 27 years, Mason co-founded the UPCCA and served as its presidents through the years working on land use and community issues. He also founded the Fox Hill Homeowners' Association, a subdivision where he lives with his wife Debbie.  He became the new city's first mayor in 2012.  He received the Difference Maker Award.

TPA Realty Services, LLC:  Originally incorporated as Technology Park/Atlanta in 1971, the new group was formed through a merger of two of the area's most respected real estate firms. Technology Park Atlanta, a TPA Group Company, dates back 42 years ago and was founded by Georgia Institute of Technology graduates. Today TPA Group is active in the community by contributing to the UPCCA's Peachtree Parkway landscape maintenance fund and other benevolent organizations. TPA Group given the Partnership Award.

Ruth Strickland: A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Strickland moved to Atlanta in 1961 after meeting the love of her life and began working with Paul Duke and his organization in 1967. She is involved with the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club and has served on numerous civic organizations. She remains involved in various capacities with the Duke family. She was presented with the Champion Award.

Gay Shook: After moving to Peachtree Corners in 1984 when her husband Ron transferred with the New York Times, Shook got involved in community activities then in 1996 when Ron retired from the NYT, the couple founded The Weekly, a neighborhood newspaper. Gay served as editor before the Weekly was retired in 2012. Over the years she has served on various board capacities with UPCCA, and was the founding chairman of the Peachtree Parkway Improvement project (PPIP). She serves on the Hospital Authority of Gwinnett County and a longtime board member of the Gwinnett medical Center Foundation. She also serves on Alvin Wilbanks' Superintendent's Committee of Community Advisors since 1998.
Shook received the Paul Duke Lifetime Achievement Award.

After the last award was delivered, Fraser Duke, Paul Duke's son spoke briefly about his memories as a boy when he visited the are that would become Peachtree Corners with his father. 

"I recall him saying 'Welcome to God's country,'" said Duke with a smile. "He was the founder of Peachtree Corners but if not equally or more important, it's Ruth Strickland, she kept him grounded."