Hopkins County Civic Center director Lonnie Fox retires
After years at the helm as Sulphur Springs’ top event organizer, civic center director Lonnie Fox retired this week.
Fox confirmed at the March 13 commissioners court that he will be stepping down after four years of serving to begin his retirement.
“It’s been a busy few years and I’m ready to do something, just me,” Fox told Front Porch News.
Fox worked in personnel management since the 1980s, including in the food service and lumber industries. His tenure as Civic Center director began in 2019 and has overseen hundreds of events in the conference center and livestock pavilions.
In addition to his duties as Civic Center director, Fox’s list of volunteer activities is nearly endless.
Fox is a member of the Dairy Festival board, and serves as a main intermediary for balloon teams at the DairyAirs balloon. He also volunteers for the BackStory leprechaun bash, handbag bingo, is speaker at high school leadership, and coaches childrens’ soccer, among many other events.
“Lonnie has been a big asset across the board,” said Chamber of Commerce president Butch Burney. “Not only does he do a great job at the Civic Center, he’s also a big supporter of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County overall. You won’t find a harder worker.”
After retirement, Fox intends to develop his multimedia career, and will run audio and video with traveling horse exhibitions in Ohio, Florida and more. Citizens need not worry they’ve seen the last of Fox; in his free time he will continue his volunteer work for town events. Fans of his music career can catch Fox disc-jockeying at downtown markets, private events, and every Friday night at Muddy Jake’s Sports Grille and Pub.
Taking over the role of Civic Center director is current assistant director Alina Sanders, who has also served at the center since 2019.
“I’ve always loved the big events, like the [CHRISTUS Mother Frances Lights of Life] gala and the [Hopkins County Veterans] Freedom Ball,” Fox noted of his time at the Civic Center. “That’s when you really get to work with people. And these are my people.”
“We hate to see him leave, but we’re glad he will get to travel and do what he wants to do,” Burney noted.
