Burt, CHHF win Gatekeeper awards

The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce recently named its Ned and Goldie Paine Gatekeeper Award winners at its Toast of the Town event. 

Hewitt-Trussville High School head softball coach Taylor Burt was named the individual Gatekeeper Award winner for 2023. The Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation won the group Gatekeeper Award. The event was held Jan. 29 at Corbeau Wine Bar in Trussville.

Burt, the head softball coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School since 2017, accepted the award from the previous year’s winner, Mayor Buddy Choat.

“She’s one of the most respected coaches in all of high school softball,” Choat said, reading from Burt’s nomination form. “Not only because of her stellar record, but because of the way her teams conduct themselves on and off the field. She’s a great ambassador for our city and always represents us with class and professionalism. She’s a true respected leader, not only in this community but around the state.” 

Burt has led the Lady Huskies to three Class 7A state championships and one state runner-up finish in her tenure at Hewitt-Trussville High School. She won the National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award in 2021. She has also been a coach for the girls’ flag football team, which won the 2021 state championship. 

Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation President Amy Peterson O’Brien accepted the group Gatekeeper Award from last year’s winner, Drew Lolley of Courtesy Buick GMC.

“For the past three years, the Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation has well educated Trussville citizens on the rich history of the city’s center, the Cahaba Project,” Lolley said, reading from the nomination form. “The CHHF’s mission is all about education, outreach and civic involvement, and they have stayed true to that mission.”

The CHHF was founded in early 2021 with a mission to support and enhance the Cahaba Project as a historic district, designated on the National Register of Historic Places, through education, outreach and civic involvement. Board members include O’Brien, Cathy Freeman, Meg Ward and Gary Lloyd. 

Since 1965, the Gatekeeper Awards have honored outstanding service to the Trussville community. 

Editor’s note: Gary Lloyd is a regular contributor to the Cahaba Sun, in addition to his service to the Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation.