GULF SHORES, Ala. — Mayor Robert Craft and Councilman Jason Dyken were recently in New York meeting with financial consultants to talk about bond ratings and such.

He took the occasion to tell people in those meetings about his resort town and its friendly people. People like Island Spirit Award Winner Det. J.B. Conway of the Gulf Shores Department.

“Jason and I just went to New York to talk about how this community, what makes us special and unique and we were talking to Moody’s and S&P about our bond rating and about how important this city was,” Craft said. “We talked about southern hospitality and the way we treat people and how we treat people is the reason we have return visitors and we have five and a half million visitors a year to the Gulf Coast of Alabama.”

He was greeted with some baffled looks.

“And they don’t quite get it,” Craft said. “They didn’t even know Alabama had a beach much five million-plus visitors coming here each year.”

In front of him at the Sept. 10 council meeting was a shining example of that hospitality. Officials from the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce were on hand to make their monthly Island Spirit award.

“This is an award presented to an individual or individuals who best demonstrate the spirit of living here on the Island, community spirit, being a part of the community and serving the community in an unselfish way,” Chamber President and CEO Ed Rodriguez said. “And imparting that spirit to others. It’s not just having that spirit, but being able to impart that spirit.”

Surprising the winner is part of the ceremony. J.B. Conway, a Gulf Shores police detective, was in uniform Sept. 10 thinking he had been tabbed for his turn to serve by attending the council meetings. Officers routinely attend the meetings.

“He’s a wonderful example of Island Spirit and for that reason the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce would like to present Island Spirit Award for September to Det. J.B. Conway,” Rodriguez said.

Craft said these kinds of stories and situations are exactly what he was trying to explain to his New York audience.

“It’s because of actions like that and the way we all treat people here and they want to come back,” Craft said. “They never forget how special southern hospitality really is.

“Thank for you what you do,” Craft told Conway. “That’s a great example.”

Rodriguez read a part of the letter sent to nominate Conway.

“The nomination that we received for this individual was by someone who had to file a police report recently and was so impressed by the professionalism of this person, they took to time to let us know about it,” Rodriguez said.

“From the nomination: He took the time out of his busy schedule to help me with a very scary situation. Although he was simply doing his job, it was nice and reassuring to know that there are still dedicated people in our community that go above and beyond their daily duties. He was extremely helpful and I appreciate his assistance in a very trying event in my life.”