The Opp Chamber of Commerce has named Gary Strickland as the winner of the Spirit of Opportunity Award.

Strickland was born and raised in Opp, graduating Opp High School with the class of 1973. He has four brothers, Roy, Rufus, Robert, and Raymond Strickland, and three sisters, Monette Walker, Evelyn Commander, and Flora Jacobs.

Gary is married to Wanda Maloy Strickland, and they have two sons and daughters-in-law, Jason and Paige Strickland and Blake and Amanda Strickland, and three grandchildren, Brently, Evie, and Andrew.

After attending MacArthur Technical College’s industrial electricity program, Gary worked for several years with a local company as an electrician and HVAC installer and service technician, learning all aspects of the sales, service, and installation of heating and air conditioning equipment. In 1987, Gary started his own company, Air Control, installing and servicing HVAC equipment.

Through the years, Gary has coached Opp city league basketball, baseball, and soccer. He is a volunteer for the Opp Fire Department and a long time member of Southside Baptist Church. He also organizes the annual Rattlesnake Rodeo 5K. Gary enjoys running and playing golf in is spare time, as well as reclining and goofing off in general.

Gary attributes his success to God, his wife, and the fine people of Opp and the surrounding areas for blessing and supporting him throughout the years.