Putnam Chamber Recognizes John Wilson, Jr.
Current Recipient of the Mayo Lester Community Service Award

The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce proudly presented the 2009 Mayo Lester Community Service Award to John Wilson, Jr. at the Putnam Chamber Annual Dinner Meeting on January 29, 2010. The event was held at Wellingtons with 275 guests in attendance.

The Mayo Lester Community Service Award was named after the Chamber's founder and first Board Chairman, Mayo Lester, who was the first recipient of the award in 1979. The criteria used in choosing the recipient includes the positive impact made because of action taken, an extraordinary amount of uncompensated time devoted to a project or projects, creativity and initiative displayed beyond what is expected, and a high degree of personal sacrifice. It is much more than being a good citizen or a good friend.

This is the thirty-first year that the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Mayo Lester Community Service Award.  As our recipient this year, John Wilson, Jr. exemplifies the standard of the award criteria.

John is a frequent volunteer for Putnam County youth organizations, including Winfield High School athletic boosters and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  John is supportive of the Rea of Hope Fellowship Home serving young women recovering from addiction and also very involved with the 4-H livestock program at the Putnam County Fair.
Even though John juggles a busy work schedule with Putnam County Bank, he provides professional assistance for students participating in the local High Schools Business Symposium, Portfolio Exposition and Junior Achievement.  John’s desire to see the children of Putnam County have every opportunity to succeed led him to work diligently for the successful passage of the School Bond in fall of 2009.  His efforts to promote the school bond resulted in the County passing the first bond issue since the 1970’s.  In perhaps his most selfless effort on behalf of the residents of Putnam County, we gratefully acknowledge John Wilson Jr.’s leadership and hard work for  Putnam County students will now have blue ribbon educational facilities to match their blue ribbon academic performance efforts.

Congratulations to John Wilson, Jr., 2009 recipient of the Mayo Lester Community Service Award.


Learn more about the History of the Mayo Lester Community Service Award