Kris Wink on Tuesday was named the recipient of the 15th annual Cap Gardner Employee of the Year Award after 33 years of service to the City of Owensboro.
Wink was selected by her peers and supervisors for her work in the office, on the grounds and with crews, contractors and the public.
“Using her intelligent mind, hard-working hands and her huge heart, she puts others before herself and is a graceful genuine role model for those around her,” her nomination letter reads.
Wink also accepted a certificate of outstanding service from Mayor Tom Watson after working for the city from 1988 to 2021. She retired from her position within the city this yer.
While receiving the award means a lot to Wink, she said that it is even deeper as she knew Gardner, the namesake for the award.
“He would come and visit the park and enjoy it and his wife. We saw her after he passed and we’ve always kind of kept that park with him in our hearts,” Wink said. “So this right here means the world to me.”
The Mayor also announced for the first time the winners of the annual holiday lighting contest hosted by Owensboro Municipal Utilities and Owensboro Neighborhood Alliance.
This year’s recipients — which receive a “golden Santa” — are Michael and Amanda Murphy of Fieldcrest Drive and Darren Fegett of McFarland Avenue.
Watson said there were so many beautifully decorated homes the judges had difficulty naming just one winner so they came together with two winners.
