NATCHEZ &045;&045; A black business owner who opened the first convenience store and laundrymat in the heart of Natchez’s black community was named the Natchez Business and Civic League’s Businessman of Year Friday night.

Ronnie Herbert received the George F. West Sr. Award at the League’s 29th annual awards banquet at the D.W. Howard Multi-Purpose Center.

Herbert’s Union Street business has been well-received in the black community, according to NCBL board member Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West. &uot;He’s been there for a couple of years now, and people have responded very well,&uot; West said.

Geraldine Williams, director of Kid’s College Child Care and Learning Center, received the Alice Felix Businesswoman of the Year Award. &uot;The work she’s done there speaks for itself. She’s does a great job of getting children ready for school,&uot; West said.

Adams County NAACP President Alfred Hunter was presented with the organization’s W.F. Scott Civic Award, while local high school seniors Brittany Thomas and Jasyria Selmon shared the group’s yearly Youth Award.

Other honorees included Andrew Calvitt, Troy Brooks and Willie Minor, who each received the NBCL’s President’s Award.

&uot;We recognize these people who have exceeded the goals and objectives of the organization,&uot; NBCL President Michael Winn said.

Founded in the 1920s as the Negro Business League, the organization was renamed in 1952. The group works with other area civic organizations to promote better business opportunities in the black community. Dr. Rudolph A. Waters, vice president of Alcorn State University, was the keynote speaker at the event.