2025 Black History Month program to honor Marty Beaugard Sr.; Andrea Holt to be guest speaker

Marty Beaugard Sr. will be the honoree when the African American Awareness Research Council (AAARC) and the Highland County District Library present their annual Black History Month program Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene.

Local businesswoman and community leader Andrea Holt will be the guest speaker. The 2025 AAARC Scholarship recipients will also be recognized.

This year's honoree will be Marty Beaugard Sr., a man who has served his county and his community.

Marty Beaugard Sr. was born and raised in Blytheville, Ark. After a distinguished 22-year career in the United States Air Force, Beaugard retired to Wilmington, to join his family in the family restaurant Beaugard's Southern Barbeque.

Beaugard’s military career took him all over the world. He was stationed in several stateside bases and completed overseas assignments in Kunsan Air Base, Korea; Alconbury Air Base, England; Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany. 

Beaugard’s military awards include the Southwest Asia Award, Marksmanship Award, Achievement Medal, Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. Beaugard earned his associate’s degree in logistics management while serving in the Air Force.

Upon Beaugard’s military retirement, he wanted to get involved in the community as a way to give back and immediately involved himself in many organizations. He served on the board of the Wilmington Youth Football Program and was the league representative for eight years. Wanting to mentor the youth, he took on the role of youth football coach for a decade. He also coached in the Wilmington Youth Basketball Program and stepped up to manage the program for 12 years.

Beaugard was recruited to coach for a young men's basketball team in the Amateur Athletic Union. After a few years of team molding, the team became very successful and completed in the Nationals in Florida, winning the Division I National Championship in 2016.

Beaugard’s professional experience includes significant roles on numerous boards and committees, demonstrating his commitment to make a positive impact on the lives of others. He served on the Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce board, the Laurel Oaks Business Council and the Clinton County Visitors Bureau board. Marty currently has 11 years in and continues to serve on the Clinton County Community Action Board.

Beaugard was elected and is serving on the Wilmington City Schools Board of Education, with two years as president. He is also active with the Wilmington City School Diversity Council and the Strategic Planning Committee.

Beaugard married the love of his life, Dianne, in July 1995. He and his wife have been fixtures in the community, and together they raised two sons, Marty Jr. and Dylan, instilling in them the same values of service and leadership that Beaugard demonstrates every day.

Beaugard’s plan is to retire June 1, 2025 and move to the Phoenix, Ariz. area and become very involved in his church. Beaugard is a dedicated community leader with a strong background in both the military and the private sector, and his retirement will no doubt create a big void in the community.

Guest speaker Andrea Holt was born and raised in Hillsboro. After graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1979, she later graduated from Southern State Community College with an associate in arts degree.

She is the daughter of Dick and Jo Zink, her greatest influences. Actively participating in her father Dick’s many successful campaigns for City Council and Mayor of Hillsboro instilled in her a strong sense of community service, philanthropy and leadership.

Holt and her husband, John, own the local Ponderosa Steakhouse and are co-owners of two other local businesses, Holtfield Station and Maplecrest Meats and More. With over 20 years of experience in the catering business, Holt has developed a deep understanding of the hospitality industry. She and John have six children and eight grandchildren.

A dedicated member of the Hillsboro Church of Christ, Holt oversees the church’s Connection Café. She takes great pride in her roots in Hillsboro and remains an active and engaged member of the community.

The 2025 AAARC Scholarship recipients will also be recognized. They are Kylea Toney, Amani Cumberland, Riley Garrison and Jamar Young.

The program will feature musical selections. As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the AAARC, there will be light refreshments after the program. Everyone is welcome to attend the program and stay for the refreshments.

The 2025 Black History Month program will be held Feb. 15 at the Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene at 1 p.m.

The church is located at 8230 U.S. 50 in Hillsboro. The AAARC would like to thank all the donors who made these scholarships possible and the church for allowing the use of the building.

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