It’s an old, but true adage that has proven itself time and time again.

So, again, was I reminded this past weekend when I was talking to Doris Truax after the University of Alabama named her female entrepreneur of the year.

If you have been reading the paper the past few months, you will notice a real rise in local business people like Truax getting these type of awards.

But according to Truax the awards would go wanting if not for the tireless work of Chamber Director Sheryl Smedley.

She has done a great job of nominating local businessmen and women for these prestigious awards that show the landscape of Selma’s commerce scene.

In her one and one-half years in Selma, she has been looking and probing into all possibilities of improving the business landscape and tourism opportunities for the city.

She always has a smile on her face when working and a positive word for Selma.

But even with the hard work that Smedley has put in, a nomination is just that. It’s our stores that are winning the awards because of their passion and hard work that is put in.

Truax pointed out to me that we are a town that has multiple personally owned pharmacies, all of which are very successful.

We have great work going on at Craig, especially with the new construction that has since started out there.

We have award winning construction companies and a jewelry store downtown that is closer to something you would see in a major city that a town the size of Selma.

Smedley recognizes all of this and has been doing an awesome job of making sure other people recognize it too.

I think we need to take time out thank her for her hard work.