Deborah Powers was born in Buffalo to Roy and Betty Heinrich. Being from Western New York (that’s the right way to say it, not UPSTATE), her earliest exposure to the mobile amusement industry came from the Erie County Fair in Hamburg. Her grandparents were “40-milers”, and Debbie would occasionally go help them. She would eventually travel with her cousin Barbara Pokorny (nee Wilson) and the late Bob Lawrence. She would learn all about the mobile food service industry, about what worked, what didn’t and through all of it, became “with it.”

Now this may come as a shock, but her parents weren’t completely sold on her getting into the carnival lifestyle. They “nicely” requested that she go to college and get an education. Debbie of course did this, but through high school and college, she still maintained her presence on the midway, because as we all know, some are just built for this life. While in high school, she was pursued by Cornell University, but she didn’t want to be so far from her family, so she declined their pursuit. Instead, she earned a medical degree and then worked at Roswell Park Cancer Research Center in Buffalo. Had she continued in this field, she probably would be the head of an oncology department, or have a cure for cancer by now. Instead, she realized her true passion was the traveling shows.

Even though her father was disapproving of her passion, he still built her first stand - a chocolate nut sundae stand, an idea that her cousin, Barbara’s, father started. Debbie used this to start her first business, and eventually migrated to Fried Dough. Since then, she has added a few more fried items to her menu. Her business, Debbie’s Concessions, has gone from its Buffalo roots to nationwide recognition.

Of course, this coincides with another name of recognition, Powers Great American Midways. Debbie travelled on the show for a long time, but knew Corky even before he had started the show. At that time, it was still Amusements of Rochester. When the two of them married in 1992, their forces combined and created what is now one of the most prestigious shows in the country.

Debbie has always been involved with associations for this industry. When Corky, his brother, Dick Janas, and other showmen formed the NYSSA in 1977, Debbie was its first Secretary. She held this position until 1991. Debbie would later go on to become the third woman President for the Showmen’s League of America in 2017, then on to the first two consecutive term woman Chair for the OABA in 2020-2021. She has also given tirelessly to fundraising activities to further and maintain the outdoor amusement business. She has been awarded the Showperson of the Year twice (1986 and 2021), Workhorse of the Year in 1987, and the Holmes-McBride Humanitarian Award from the NC Association of Agricultural Fairs in 2012. She has also led Powers Great American Midways as the number one OABA Jamboree fundraiser for many years and holds the title for largest OABA Jamboree ever. It’s easy to see that Debbie cares about this lifestyle, and it cares for her back.

So also did her parents in fact. When her father died, he was even wearing a PGAM show shirt. From disapproving of this itinerate lifestyle, to being proud of the empire their daughter helped build, at the end of the day, they too were “with it.”

When asked about the reason behind her success, there is always the same answer: her faith in Jesus. She has always said that “God is the one who has brought the people to me.” She serves to serve the people. Seriously, she would rather stand at a window than sit in the office. Her devotion to servitude, to help her fellow show people, comes from this faith in Christ to always help and love one another.

It is with great pleasure and honor that we bestow upon Debbie Powers the NYSSA Lifetime Achievement Award.