Union native and longtime News Channel 7 weatherman and personality Jack Roper will be the keynote speaker during the Union County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Member Banquet.

The banquet will be held March 24 at the Tabernacle Baptist Church Family Life Center. Dinner, catered by Midway Barbecue, will be served at 7 p.m.

Union County’s Industry of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Support Group of the Year will be recognized. Also presented will be the Shining Star Award, the Friend of the Chamber Award and the President’s Choice Award.

Roper, now the co-host of Your Carolina With Jack and Kimberly, is the son of the late Jack and Helen Roper of Union. He began his broadcast career in radio. After several years in local Carolina radio, he moved to Washington, N.C., as weather anchor and children’s show host at WITN-TV. He then headed out west to KENS-TV in San Antonio, Texas, where he was also a weather anchor. He returned to South Carolina in 1986 to join the News Channel 7 team as a weather anchor.

He has been awarded the South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association’s “Local Broadcast Personality of the Year” award three times. Locally, readers of the Greenville News also have chosen him as “Favorite Upstate Television Personality” for two years.

He is the former host of the program “Kidsizzle with Jack Roper,” which received the Best Children’s Program award five times from the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. In 2003, Roper received an Emmy for his weather presentation in the News Channel 7 5 p.m. newscast. He is the on-air host for News Channel 7’s “Caring for the Carolinas” campaign, which he said has given him more time to be out in the community.

Roper is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and in 2007 received his meteorology degree from Mississippi State University. He spends his time outside of work performing his magic shows at area festivals and events. He also makes his “Positive Attitude” speech at churches, civic groups and businesses. A musician, he regularly performs with his own band.

A Corporate Sponsorship for the banquet is $300 and includes program recognition and a table for eight. Silver Sponsorship is $200 and includes programs recognition and seating for four. Bronze Sponsorship includes program recognition and two dinner seats and costs $100. Individual tickets cost $25.

Reservations may be mailed to the Union County Chamber of Commerce on 135 West Main St., Union, 29379.

Anyone wanting more information may call the Chamber of Commerce at 427-9039 or email ralexander@unionsc.com.