George Tolliver named Byron Kiwanis Lay Person of the Year

George Tolliver was named the 2016 Byron Kiwanis Layperson of the Year during the 28th Annual Byron Kiwanis Prayer Meeting. Nominators were asked to nominate someone in their church who demonstrated the first two objects of Kiwanis International: 1) To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life, and 2) To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships. These objects can be compartmentalized into four areas: service to church, to community, to family, and to one’s fellow man.

In his Service to Church, Tolliver is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Byron and serves as president of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul. As such he is responsible for helping those in need in the northern part of Ogle County and he and his wife are one of the teams who make home visits to those requesting help. He also volunteers to be in charge of volunteers of the St. Mary Parish cemetery. He has worked with the local Boy Scout troop on an Eagle project at the cemetery and he recruits parishioners to help him improve the grounds.

In his Service to Community, Tolliver volunteers as a teacher of wood carving classes at the Rock River Center in Oregon and he has donated a number of his hand carved walking sticks to local charities to help them obtain funds for their organizations. He is involved with the Knights of Columbus and their charitable causes, and he joined with the Kiwanis in coordinating activities for two families in need.

In his Service to Family, he is married to Barb Tolliver and he believes that family comes first. He is committed to his extended family in many ways.

(COURTESY PHOTOS Tempo) Byron Kiwanis Club secretary Karyn Wilson presents the club’s Layperson of the Year Award to George Tolliver during the 28th Annual Byron Kiwanis Prayer Breakfast.

As stated in his letter of nomination, “George is a true good guy and whatever project he takes on, he puts his whole heart and soul into it,” wrote Rev. Randy Snider of the Cornerstone Family Church in Byron who was the keynote speaker for the event.