DALLAS, Texas – More than 1,100 business leaders and guests gathered Thursday, September 11^th, in Dallas to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Marketplace Chaplains, America’s original and largest workplace chaplaincy organization.

Former Army 3-Star General, John Van Alstyne, a past Marketplace Chaplains’ Board member, who served in the Pentagon during 9/11, received the prestigious Integrity in Service to Country award, drawing a standing ovation from the large crowd at the downtown Hilton Anatole hotel.

“The greatest honor in my career has been to be in the presence of heroes and none greater than at the Pentagon on 9/11,” the former Commandant of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets said.

Also honored that evening was Dallas Pastor/Teacher Charles R. “Chuck” Swindoll with the Integrity in Ministry award. Indiana Marketplace Chaplain Maurice Stonecypher received the highest organizational honor, being named 2014 Marketplace Chaplain of the Year (COTY) for his work with Midwest client companies.

“I am greatly honored to be able to serve others in the Marketplace,” Stonecypher said, after receiving the COTY award. “It is a great honor and privilege, and I am deeply humbled and grateful to God for the opportunity.”

“It’s a true honor to salute one of our chaplains who is humbly helping those in the workplace,” Executive President and COO Richard S. De Witt said in presenting the award.

The evening, which included a video tribute from Fort Worth native and CBS News Anchor Bob Schieffer, also featured the worldwide premier of the first written history of Marketplace Chaplains titled, “Chaplain,” by Founder, Chairman and CEO Gil A. Stricklin.

“I’ve said that no one is more surprised than I am over the length, success, and growth of this organization,” Stricklin said, as the final speaker of the evening. “I believe we are doing vital work in helping client companies and their employees who are hurting and in need, here at home and now all over the world.”

Among the business leaders in attendance at the celebration were Mike Shipman, Chairman of North Dallas Bank & Trust Co., the longest continuous client with Marketplace Chaplains, early client David Wicker, former CEO of Sysco Foods, along with Ed Bonneau, former Chairman and CEO of Bonneau Sunglasses in Farmers Branch, Texas, the first client company who signed with Marketplace Chaplains in 1984.