Rock County Legacies Gala

Name: Rock County Legacies Gala
Start: 2024-06-20T18:30:00-05:00
End: 2024-06-20T21:30:00-05:00
Location: Rock County Historical Society and Lincoln-Tallman House

Schedule

Thu Jun 20 2024 at 06:30 pm to 09:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Rock County Historical Society and Lincoln-Tallman House | Janesville, WI

The Rock County Historical Society (RCHS) will recognize three people who through their hard work have made a difference in the county, at its third annual Rock County Legacies Gala. This year’s honorees are Greg Hughes, and Tom and Amanda Fong, who will be honored at the event set for Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. on
the RCHS campus, 426 N. Jackson Street in Janesville. The event is a fundraiser for RCHS.
Greg Hughes
A Janesville native, Greg Hughes is the Executive Vice President of NBC Sports Communications, where he oversees all strategic media and public outreach on behalf of NBC Sports. He also manages all internal communications for the company. Greg’s career spans nearly 35 years in sports media, with a portfolio of programming including the NFL, Olympics, Big Ten Conference, Premier League, PGA Tour/President’s Cup, USGA, The Open Championship and Ryder Cup, Triple Crown and Breeder's Cup horse racing, NASCAR, IndyCar, and much more.
Greg remains deeply dedicated to his Janesville origins, passionately upholding his commitment to the community. He is the founder and principal of four local establishments, including Gameday Sports Bar & Grill; Bazinga Classic Pub & Grille; Barkley’s Burgers, Brews & Dawgs; and Genisa Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar. Each venture reflects Greg’s dedication to quality and innovation.
At the heart of each establishment is a team of devoted individuals, led by a local general manager, working to deliver exceptional food and service to every patron. Through their collective efforts, each business embodies a unique atmosphere and spirit of hospitality.
“Home for me will always be Janesville, and working to make the city a better place for my friends and family there is a point of pride in my life,” Hughes said. “My friends and partners have worked with me to create and improve the social places in Janesville; hopefully we’ve been successful.”
Tom and Amanda Fong
For 49 years, Tom Fong has helped his family run The Cozy Inn in Janesville – the second-oldest U.S. Chinese restaurant, and still operating in its original location. Tom Fong owns the business along with his wife, Amanda, and sister-in-law, Michelle. Amanda is the head of the dining room, while Tom does much of the cooking. They prepare and serve authentic Cantonese-style dishes inspired by the southern part of China. According to Tom, Amanda runs “pretty much everything. This is her passion.”
Opened in 1922 by the Wong family, Fong’s mother, Marie Shum, and his then-stepdadpurchased the restaurant in 1975. Tom and his brother, John, began working in the business right away, at ages 14 and 16. When Tom graduated from high school, he opened a large restaurant in New Orleans and later one in Miami. But in 1989, when his son was born, Tom and Amanda decided to return to Janesville and The Cozy Inn.
Tom attributes the business’s longevity to the support of the community. Through the pandemic, road reconstructions and many other challenges, Cozy Inn’s loyal customers will not be deterred.
“We have great support. I’ve watched different generations of families come to the restaurant,” Tom said. “We feel like the Janesville community is basically family.”
The Gala will include heavy appetizers and live music by Jeremiah Fox and the Odd Company Band. Live and silent auctions will add to the evening’s line-up. Casual attire is welcome.
Call RCHS at 608-756-4509 with questions.