PHOTOS: Ice Creamery Co-Owners Honored as 'Business Couple of the Year'

For Dave Knudsen of , no business award is worth winning unless it also acknowledges his business partner and wife, Kathy Knudsen.

The dynamic duo was the first to ever receive "Businessperson of the Year" as a couple by the at Wednesday afternoon's ceremony held at

Though he said it was an honor to receive the award, he initially turned it down when it was offered to him.

"I refused it as a man but accepted it as a couple," Dave said.

He said Kathy, his partner for nearly 45 years, is the "backbone of this business."

"Behind every good woman is a man, and I'm that man," he said about his wife.

A crowd of 75, which included political figures, local business owners and even — attended the luncheon.

The Ice Creamery also recently received at the annual National Ice Cream Retailers Association (NICRA) convention.

Check out the photos above taken at the award ceremony by the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce.