John Parker, 2017 NCDW "Distinguished Citizen" Award Winner

Last Tuesday morning a small group of twelve Civitans – eleven from the Salisbury Club and fellow Civitan Bob Jones, representing NC District West – gathered in a hospital room at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem to honor one of our own, Civitan John Parker.

Past NC District West Governor and Salisbury Club member Mark Beymer read a proclamation declaring that John had been nominated by our Club for the 2016-17 Distinguished Civitan Award, the highest honor accorded by the District for service to the Club. In particular, John has made it his personal mission to support Special Olympics in Rowan County, and to encourage the involvement of club members as volunteers and supporters of Special Olympics activities.

Bob Jones then announced that John had been selected to be the District award winner, and presented the engraved award plaque to John. John, who was unable to speak much due to his recent illness, was obviously touched by the ceremony and surprised by the number of visitors who came to express their support. Also present were John’s wife Jane, daughter Catherine and grandsons Parker and Anthony.