The Rocky Mount Breakfast Optimist Club presented its 2012 Melvin Newell Award banquet to Tyler Sherrod.

The Melvin Newell award was named for a longtime friend of youth in the Rocky Mount area. Newell coached youth baseball teams for many years and touched the lives of many area youth. He also encouraged the youth to go after their dreams and to succeed to their highest potential. Education was high on his list of things to accomplish, to do the best that you can. Newell also encouraged the youth to serve God and be active in church.

Sherrod is son of Eddie and Lisa Sherrod of Rocky Mount. The guest speaker at the awards breakfast was hometown celebrity Danny Talbot, who grew up in Rocky Mount and was familiar with Newell. He shared with the guest his experience with Newell and his time in sports during his youth as well as high school, college and in professional ball.

In attendance were the members of the Rocky Mount Breakfast Optimist Club and parents of the nominees, the governor of the East district of Optimist International, Jerry Medlin, and Zone 5 Lt. Gov. Errol Warren.

The club also was honored to have Newell’s son, Terry Newell, in attendance.

The other 2012 Melvin Newell nominees were Zachary Patterson, son of Rocky and Cindy Patterson, Cody Fuller, son of Fred and Jenny Fuller and Garrett Killebrew, son of Tim and Melinda Killebrew.

Breakfast Optimist Club members congratulated Tyler on being named the winner and wish him much success in the future.