Kelly Newton Receives AGS's Shipley Award

RAPAPORT... The American Gem Society (AGS) has given Arkansas jeweler Kelly Newton its Robert M. Shipley award for his contributions to the industryand service to the organization. The third-generation owner and president of Newton'sJewelers has been a member of AGS for 25 years, and has served on its board ofdirectors since 2010. He has been a chair of the organization's membershipcommittee since 2014. "Kelly sets the standard for what an AGS jeweler should beand what the Shipley Award stands for," Doug Parker, a former president of theAGS board and current chair of the Robert M. Shipley nomination committee, saidlast week. "He gives freely of himself to AGS, the industry, his community andhis church." The award, AGS's most prestigious honor, is named for RobertM. Shipley, who established it in 1934. Shipley also founded theGemological Institute of America (GIA). Image: Kelly Newton (left) accepting the award. (American Gem Society)