Meet the recipients of this year's Duke Kimbrell Civic Achievement Award

Diane Turbyfill, The Gaston Gazette
·2 min read
Natalie Tyndol
Natalie Tyndol

The Gaston County Jaycees will host the 73rd Distinguished Services Awards this week.

In addition to honoring emergency personnel, a Gaston County teacher and student, and five people under 40 leaders, the Duke Kimbrell Civic Achievement Award will be awarded to one man and one woman.

Designed to honor "a lifetime of service to the community marked by business excellence, high moral standards, and a commitment to social justice," the Kimbrell Award is named in memory of the late W. Duke Kimbrell, who died in October of 2014 at age 89.

The year’s recipients are Ernest Sumner and Natalie Tindol.

Sumner
Sumner

Sumner, a Gastonia native, is a dedicated community leader with an extensive background in various industries including Central Yarn and Dyeing, United Merchants and A.B. Carter. For the past 13 years, he has served as the president of the Gaston Community Foundation, actively involved in organizations such as the United Way of Gaston County, Gaston County Arts Council, Schiele Museum, and more. Ernest is also recognized for his service as a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church.

Tindol has been in Gaston County since 1974. After graduating from Ashbrook in 1983 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 1987, she moved back to Gastonia before pursuing her dream of becoming a cruise director. Instead of cruising the seas, she developed a newfound love for Gastonia and the transportation industry and began her career at Earl Tindol Ford. She became the general manager in 1995 and purchased the Ford store when her dad retired in 2002. She added Subaru in 2008 and ROUSH performance in 2014. She helps with the youth group at First Methodist in Gastonia and teaches group fitness at the Gaston County Family YMCA.

The award’s namesake, Kimbrell, rose to become chairman of the board of Parkdale Mills and was known as one of the most influential textile leaders in the world.

Throughout his life he was devoted to helping others and was a leader with the United Way, Gaston Day School, the Boy Scouts, the Schiele Museum, Stowe Botanical Gardens, Covenant Village, and the Community Foundation.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Meet the recipients of this year's Duke Kimbrell Civic Award