Business that achieved firsts awarded in Seneca

2016-ballenger-award-winnerA Seneca area business, established in 1985, received one of the top honors from the Seneca Rotary Club.  David and Sara Kroeger were honored yesterday with the G-W Ballenger Award, named for an early 20th century Seneca hardware store owner.  Rotarian Debbie Dubose, who led a committee to make the selection, said Kroeger Marine Construction became Oconee’s first barge business to follow erosion control methods and patented a dock access ladder for those with physical handicaps.  Once a real estate agent, David Kroeger made a career change when one of his customers asked him why a dock did not come with his lake land purchase.  Mr. Kroeger called the Ballenger award a great honor and said he was delighted to live and work in Oconee County, which he called a
slice of heaven.”  Present for the award presentation was G-W Ballenger’s granddaughter, Eleanor “Punkin” Richardson.