Dave Lingelbach presents Willy Wilcox with the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award on behalf of the Masons at the basketball game Saturday. Dave is joined by fellow Masons (from left) Andy Barnette, Bill Lucas, Rick Bridge, Bob Johnson and Corky Fosher. Photo/Candy Dooper

It can be said that Willy Wilcox is well known within the community not only for his boisterous laugh and smile, but also for a large variety of community events that he has had a hand in helping with.

Wilcox began his service first to his country while serving abroad as a Vietnam combat veteran, which he was honored with three purple hearts and one bronze star. Moving to Lusk in 1972 he continued his service to the community for many years volunteering his time with the Lusk Ambulance Service. He has also been the narrator and voices of many characters for the Legend of Rawhide pageant.

Among the many events that he donates his time to help out with he is involved with Senior Pro Rodeo, helps organize the Christmas Celebration parade, the Manville parade and the Legend parade. Wilcox also helps with auctions, and has been known to sell the shirt off of his own back during these auctions just to help raise more money for various organizations.

He has been a life long member of VFW and the Elks.

It was this year that the Masons of Harmony Lodge #24 decided that Wilcox would be the best candidate for this years ‘Citizen of the Year’. On Feb. 20 during NCHS basketball games. “We’re lucky to live in a place where so many are so generous and so willing to volunteer,” said Jeb Hanson. “It gives us great pleasure to honor this years recipient, an individual who has donated time, hard work, and talent for many, many years.”

According to Wilcox he was completely surprised by the honor bestowed upon him. His girlfriend, Sue Johnson, had been quizzing him for weeks, gathering information to be used during the presentation of the award.

“I would like to thank the Mason’s for bestowing this great honor on me. Sue‘s behind the scenes work with asking me all of the information without me having a clue what it was for was a shock and a surprised,” Wilcox said. “I would like to say that there are many people in this community that do things for the community that are just as deserving, if not more so than me.”

The Masons are an old fraternal order that began in Lusk over 100 years ago. For over five years the Masons have elected to choose a “Citizen of the Year” basing their decision community service and volunteers that continue to work to make Lusk what it is today.



For the complete article see the 02-24-2010 issue.

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