Bio: Cook, Tami – Loyal Citizen of the Year (2019)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cook, Hall, Davel, Brown, Zvolena

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 29 May 2019

While all the Cooks were in the kitchen just a few feet away from her at the May 22 Loyal Chamber of Commerce banquet at the Loyal Sportsmen’s Club, the soon-to-be citizen of the year didn’t have a clue what was coming. Only when she heard the details of the award recipient’s contributions to the community did Tami Cook recognize they were talking about her.

Just after the award was announced, the Cook family piled out of the hot and cramped kitchen to celebrate with her. With all the commotion surrounding Memorial Day and other goings-on, Tami said she never thought she might be under consideration for the honor.

“I didn’t know my family was back there in the kitchen. I didn’t even realize there was anything going on,” she said.

Cook was nominated and selected for the award, said presenter Teresa Hall, for various behind-the-scenes things she does to keep her hometown vibrant. From her job as manager of Kwik Trip’s Loyal location to her past work as a Chamber of Commerce Board member, she “is someone who tends to go unnoticed,” Hall said. “She doesn’t like to be acknowledged for the ways she gives unselfishly. Whether it is at home or church or to our community, she is just the type of person who is willing to go the extra mile.”

One of Cook’s main projects is to keep Loyal’s Main Street looking sharp. With the Chamber, she made sure the light poles had decorations and flowers. She collected the corn stalks to decorate the poles in fall, and the garland for the winter look. She helped organize the dance for the re-opening of Main Street after construction in 2017, and was instrumental in starting the downtown trick-or-treating event for Halloween and the summer movie night on Main Street.

“She seemed to have a knack for knowing what needed to be done and when,” Hall said. “She has also left us with many creative ideas to bring into the community. She wants the best for this town so we can all be proud of it.”

The former Tami Davel graduated from Loyal High School, as did all six of her siblings. Her husband, Randy, is also a Loyal graduate, as are his six siblings. The couple has three children: Danny of Kenosha, Heidi of Maine, and Bob of Loyal.

Tami credits her husband and parents -- Nancy Brown and the late Jerry Davel -- with supporting her when she takes on a community role. She has the ideas, she said and, “They help me make them come alive.”

“I thank my parents for giving me the work ethic to get things done,” she said.

Also at the Chamber’s annual banquet, RZ Builders was recognized as the Business of the Year. Owner Roger Zvolena talked about the growth of their business, started by him and his wife, Lori, and now in partnership with their son, Dustin, and his wife, Shelby. RZ Builders bought the former Loyal Cold Storage building in 2016 and renovated it for their main business location.