A sincere dedication to the community earned Poplar Bluff Mayor Ed DeGaris a new title Friday, as Citizen of the Year.
The Butler County Community Resource Council announced the award during their annual partnership luncheon.
DeGaris is a champion of community events and can always be counted on for a ready smile and a helping hand, said Austin Montague, the 2016 CRC Person of the Year, when making the announcement.
"(He is) committed to making Poplar Bluff a better place to work," Montague told board members, volunteers and partners at Fellowship Baptist Church.
DeGaris volunteers with projects such as the revitalization of downtown Poplar Bluff, development of a farmers' market and restoration of Rodgers Theatre, while serving on various community boards.
"(He) works tirelessly to bring the community vision of a vibrant, prosperous Poplar Bluff to fruition," Montague said. "(He) serves the citizens of Poplar Bluff with courage, professionalism and integrity."
DeGaris served as a Poplar Bluff police officer for 33 years and after retirement ran for Poplar Bluff City Council. He has been on the council since 2009 as the Ward 2 representative.
DeGaris is also a member of the CRC Board of Directors.
"I just love the people. I love my community," DeGaris said after the luncheon. "I love the community resource council because everything they do is to help others. That's going to do absolutely nothing but help our community, and that's what we should all be trying to do."
The CRC brings together community partners for efforts to improve the lives of families and children in Butler County. It includes the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, teen parent mentoring and Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care.
The organization also heads several committees which work to improve community issues, including parents working and juvenile crime.
Butler County can be an even more wonderful place to live with the dedication and participation of CRC partners, said board president Teresa Johnson.
New CRC Executive Director Rebeca Pacheco was also introduced during the luncheon, taking over this month from retiring director Karen Crook.
"I'm hoping I can live up to the legacy Karen has left," Pacheco said.
The CRC has the community's best interest in mind, from beginning to end, said keynote speaker David Wyman, a member of the parents working committee and area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation.
It can be really easy to be discouraged with society today, after school shootings, reports of abuse by doctors and teachers, natural disasters and other events, he said.
"You just want to check out and throw your hands up. I get it," Wyman said.
Some people believe that only great power can hold evil in check, Wyman said, quoting the movie "The Hobbit."
The quote continues, he said, "But that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."
That is the greatest challenge of the CRC, Wyman explained.
"In so many ways, they provide small acts of kindness and love to all of the people of this community. You have such a treasure in these people," Wyman concluded.