Glenn Lautzenhiser, left, talks with John Davis, right, before a
Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau board meeting Monday
afternoon. Lautzenhiser is replacing Davis on the board; board
members gathered for a reception in Davis' honor before Monday's
meeting. Dixie Butler is shown in the background.
(Photo:Roberson)
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A man who has served with the Columbus Convention and Visitor's
Bureau board of directors for 16 years is passing the torch.
Monday afternoon a reception was held at CVB headquarters on
Seventh Street North to honor John Davis, who has been a member of
the organization since the group's inception.
He will be replaced by Columbus Municipal School District board
of trustees member Glenn Lautzenhiser.
"I feel like I'm following Bear Bryant," Lautzenhiser said.
Davis said leaving his post is bittersweet, but he feels like
it's time for some fresh ideas to come to the CVB.
"I think it's our responsibility to sort of pass the torch to
other folks and bring in some new ideas," said Davis. "You need
some institutional history for some of these boards to work, but
you need some new blood as well and I thought it was a good time to
do that."
Proud of service
Davis said he is proud of his time with the board and is pleased
he has helped turn tourism into a viable industry in the Friendly
City.
"I feel good for all the different things we've accomplished,"
he said. "We have taken tourism from just being antebellum homes
and the (Tennessee-Tombigbee) Waterway, to race tracks, historic
tourism and a number of other things to create year-round tourism,
and I feel good about that. We've helped make tourism a real
industry in this town."
Ready to work
Lautzenhiser, who recently was appointed by the Columbus City
Council to replace Davis said he is very excited to get his feet
wet and jump right into the business of the CVB.
"I think we are doing a great job in Columbus," he said. "We
have history that very few towns have, and we're a very friendly
town. You couple the history and the friendliness we have and I
think we have a winner and I want to be a part of that."
Lautzenhiser has been heavily involved in several projects which
were partially funded by the CVB, including last year's honoring of
late sports legends broadcaster Red Barber and boxer Henry
Armstrong - both of who originally are from Columbus.
Peaked interest
"That really kind of peaked my interest in tourism," he said. "I
just saw everything that could be accomplished after both events. I
thought it was great and I'd like to do more of the same."
Davis was presented with a recognition of his work with the
board, in the form of a desk plaque, by CVB board Chairman Dewitt
Hicks.
'Splendid service'
"You've been a terrific board member for many, many years, and
this community and the board particularly is grateful for your
splendid service," said Hicks.
Davis offered the board and the community a piece of advice
before leaving the gathering.
"I think everyone needs to realize (tourism) really is an
industry," he said. "In this area we have a lot of out-of-towners
coming through and workers in every job need to realize each person
is a customer of some sort. If you are a fast-food worker you need
to be polite to people and you need to know about your town,
too."