CARROLLTON, GA – James A. Gill (Jim) has been honored by the Carroll County and Carrollton Evening Sertoma (Service To Mankind) Clubs, along with the Southeastern Region for Sertoma, with Lifetime Service Awards for 2019. The awards recognize Gill’s more than 50 years of commitment to the programs, people and communities served by Sertoma.
Gill has been an active member with Sertoma International since 1970, including serving as club president in Columbus, GA during 1973, governor for the state of Georgia during 1975 and International President during 1982. He helped found the Carroll County Sertoma club by 1986 in addition to eight other clubs in northwestern Georgia during a 35-year span. Gill was honored with a Lifetime Service Award by Sertoma International during 1992 and an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Sertoma International Foundation by 2001. He and his wife, Cheryl, are Life Patrons for the Sertoma International Foundation and created an endowment for local programs of the Carroll County Sertoma Club.
“Being able to recognize Jim at the local level and the regional level at one event was such a treat for everyone,” said Chad Houck, president of the Carroll County Sertoma Club. “This recognition is usually reserved for Sertoma International, but everyone was on-board to get this done. I can’t think of anyone who has served more selflessly on behalf of this community.”
Gill was recognized at a banquet during the fall of 2019 hosted by both the Carroll County Sertoma Club and Carrollton Evening Club. Presenting the awards were members of the local clubs along with the late Regional Director and Past Governor, LTC (Ret) Steve Brodie of Thomaston, GA. and Walter “Bud” Osborn, Regional Director from Inverness, FL. Also in attendance were past Governors Phil Wilkins and Michael Keefe along with past Sertoma International Presidents Pat Myer (Macon) and Woodrow Hudson (Carroll County). It is rare to have three international past presidents at a single, local event.
“Growing up in Sertoma taught my sister, Shannon, and me about service to our community,” said Jay Gill, past president of the Carroll County Sertoma Club and son of Jim Gill. “From early childhood we watched our father be passionate about many things bigger than himself. To give so much time, energy and financial support to helping others without expecting a personal benefit is a great lesson for all of us.”
Sertoma (Service to Mankind) was established in 1912 as the Cooperative Club in Kansas City, Missouri. Now, Sertoma clubs can be found throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Historically, the organization has focused on speech and hearing health problems, particularly in children, but has since adopted programs targeting drug-use education and projects promoting freedom and democracy to school-aged children. Local Sertoma clubs also sponsor and support teen and collegiate clubs in area schools.
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