The Greenville Rotary Club, aka the Noon Rotary Club, honored Pam Queen as Rotarian of the Year and presented William “Buddy” Oxford with the Friend of Rotary Award for 2015 at their annual banquet on June 23.
 
Outgoing Rotary Club President Troy Brakefield honored Queen for her countless hours spent in the community working with Hunt County Shared Ministries, CASA and Greenville Chamber of Commerce functions, as well as supporting the club’s activities including Chili Fest, the Haunted Landmark, the Cotton Patch Challenge and its student scholarship program.
 
Oxford was honored for volunteering hundreds of hours over the past few years as security for the club’s Haunted Landmark, which raises funds to support the club’s community programs.
 
 
Emceed by local celebrity Friendlee, this year’s event had a casual theme with the members decked out in Hawaiian shirts, taking a tutorial from a belly dancer and enjoying a performance from Dr. Matt Koger.
 
“Tonight is really special to me because years ago, this club honored me as the Friend of Rotary for that year,” Friendlee said. “It’s always nice to be with people that do great things in our community.”
 
Gloria Jordan, former club secretary and owner of Office Solutions, was honored with the Spirit of Rotary Award, and Sgt. Wes Trueblood took home the Heart of Service Award for his work as the head of the local Salvation Army. Local Allstate agent Paul Kelley was also recognized as New Rotarian of the Year for his support of club activities and spearheading the recruitment of new members.
 
Owner of Arrington Marine, Bob Arrington was sworn in as the incoming president along with the Board of Directors for 2015-2016.
 
“I expect to see great things ahead for our club through our members that continue to follow our motto of ‘Service Above Self,’” Arrington said.
 
In the past year, the Greenville Rotary Club donated tens of thousands of dollars to CASA, Community SEEDS, the Salvation Army, Children’s Advocacy Center, veterans, Boy Scouts, the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, Bras for the Cause, Tools for School, Shattered Dreams, FISH, Project Graduation, and the Greenville police and fire departments. They gave new uniforms and food to kids in need through Kavanaugh United Methodist Church and Hunt Count Shared Ministries.  The club also awarded $6,000 in scholarships for high school seniors and earned a Rotary International grant that helped create a computer lab for a special needs school in Cozumel that the group has supported for five years.
Founded in 1925, the Greenville Rotary Club is a non-profit group that actively strives to make their community better by living their motto “Service Above Self.”  The organization meets every Wednesday at noon at the Landmark on Lee, 2920 Lee Street. They invite persons interested in learning more about the group to visit www.greenvilletexasrotary.org.