Bob Hansen, a member of the Fulton Rotary Club since 2010, received the Raymond McCallister Rotarian of the Year award at Wednesday's meeting.
The award honors the late Raymond McCallister, a long-serving member of the Fulton Rotary Club and pastor of the First Christian Church in Fulton.
"This year's Rotarian of the Year is extremely dependable, distinguishable, honorable and an absolute pleasure to work side by side with," Dori Shirley, last year's winner, said in remarks prepared for the occasion.
Traditionally, the Rotarian of the Year award is presented at the club's installation banquet, but Hansen will be in Africa, leading a group of volunteers in Rwanda and Tanzania. It was his work in East Africa that was Hansen's biggest accomplishment this year. He spent countless hours researching and writing a grant to lower the maternal and infant mortality rate among the Maasai in Tanzania. That work will be funded by a global grant by Rotary International and District 6080 in cooperation with a Rotary Club in Tanzania within a few months.
In addition, Hansen participated in the Rotary Club's many service projects, including SERVE's Back to School Fair, assisting with the Polio Plus Drive, preparing and serving food at the Soup Kitchen and staffing the Rotary for Life Booth during the annual Mouse Races event, despite having a 4 a.m. flight to Tanzania.
He also coordinated the addition of an organ and bone marrow donation drive to the blood drives at William Woods University and Westminster College and assisted with other blood drives. When a fellow Rotarian's house was severely damaged by flooding, Hansen organized a work crew to assist in restoring the home.
He participated in the club's visioning process, attended the district conference in Branson, served as program chair for two months and brought two new members into the club.
Retired from a long career at Westminster College, Hansen most recently served as executive director of the Emerson Center for Leadership and Service at the college.
The namesake of the award, McCallister, served as Fulton Rotary Club president from 1971-72 and passed away in fall 2005. Club members remember McCallister for his active participation in the club and for his great sense of humor.
The award, which was first given in 2006, has been presented to Phil Reynolds, Henry Niles, Dick Wilson, Wayne Lowen, Bob Sterner, Marcia Lamons, Mike Beahon, Mary Ann Beahon, Ray Brown, Jennifer Books and Dori Shirley. Previous recipients serve as the selection committee and identify a member of the Fulton Rotary Club for recognition of distinguished service, loyalty and devotion to the ideals of Rotary.