Ginny's Place is opened with a hoot and a holler

— "Send her up here," ordered emcee Dick Trammel after repeated attempts to politely call forth his close friend, Virginia Mocivnik, the center of attention.

The woman many know as "Ginny" didn't want to come to the podium. She didn't want to quit gabbing or idle down. "She's having a ball," someone said from the back.

More than 100 people, from Benton County Judge Dave Bisbee and Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone to Northwest Arkansas Community College President Becky Paneitz and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Executive Director Scott Van Laningham, came out Tuesday evening to designate the Center for Nonprofits' lobby as Ginny's Place.

"You're probably wondering why we're here," Trammel began.

"Yeah!" Mocivnik blurted from the center table.

While organizers did their best to honor Mocivnik with a sober presentation, she seemed to want nothing more than a group hug and a good laugh. Jones TV produced a thorough documentary of her life, from coal miner's daughter and world-class athleteto transmission shop owner. She was recognized for almost singlehandedly introducing girls sports to Rogers High School and championing the community college in Bentonville and the airport in Highfill.

"Don't let the work clothes, the gruff personality, the loud ... OK, don't let the work clothes or the gruff personality influence you," Rogers Mayor Steve Womack told the crowd. "Without the Virginia Mocivniks of the world, our city gets real average real fast."

Northwest Profile, Pages 44 on 09/27/2009

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