Our honoree grew up in Pekin- attending local schools and graduated from Pekin High- but was not born here. That distinction belongs to a city a little ways to the north.
Interestingly, this person could partly say "howdy pardner", having lived way far south- almost "South of the Border"- until that age that is often connected with the word "terrible". It was then that his family relocated to Pekin.
While at Pekin High, he took up swimming- an activity that he had been competing in since the tender age of 5.
He also played the trumpet, a talent he picked up while in Jr High.
This long standing Rotarian, then went on to the U of I where he received a degree in Psychology. He then attended their affiliate in Chicago, mastering the study of a profession that you could say "he sunk his teeth into,"
If that doesn't give it away, listen to some other characteristics you may not know about our selectee:
He has attended the same church since he was 2 years old and has sung with a group there as First Tenor for 25 years. He is a past usher of that church and has been a Sunday School teacher. He also served on the committee- and as Chairman- of the Benefit Dinner and Singing Program for 22 years.
I'm sure he has picked up on these clues now... so let's get more specific. He serves as the Morton Church World Relief Representative, which collects and distributes funds to many in-need through out the area- and the world.
He has just completed a term of service on the Apostolic Christian National Medical Committee, which included serving as chairman for 2 years.
If you haven't figured out who this former Broadmoor Junior high athlete who broke the basketball backboard with a shot put is.....this should tip you off-
He has traveled to Haiti annually, giving dental care- for the past 9 years- through a clinic that he established at a local rural hospital. Four years ago he set up a small dental clinic in Mexico at an orphanage, where he just returned from last month.
This highly awarded U of I Dental School student joined his dad's practice here in Pekin upon graduation in 1991. Later his brother Jeff joined making it a true Family Dental Practice. He and his lovely wife, who together with our recipient's parents, collaborated wonderfully on this- have two daughter's- Jessa and Marisa -who has been a frequent visitor to our club of late.
A Pekin Rotarian since 1992, his wife Marcy says, "He is known for his love of jokes and puns. He has always strived to have his priorities right with God first, his family second and then service to others."
He has shown his dedication to Rotary, not only spending countless hours at the Rotary Grill, but also designing a schematic layout for set-up and storage.
You know, the cool thing about bestowing this club honor every year, is it is often THE ONLY way that we discover how truly special some of our quieter, more humble, members are.
Please join me in showing some overdue appreciation for Pekin Rotary's 2016 Paul Harris Fellow recipient -
Todd Stoller