Community service is one of the anchors of the Central Methodist University mission, and it is part of the fabric of the institution. It is modeled daily by students, faculty, and staff, and it is constantly on display in veteran CMU employee Wally Eaton.
Eaton was honored Thursday, April 25 as Fayette’s Citizen of the Year. The award was presented by Optimists President Brian Spielbauer and Eaton’s cousin, Fred Eaton, at a joint Fayette Optimists and Rotary Club celebration at Miknan’s Restaurant.
Spielbauer said “Wally is always there to help” in Fayette, having served the community as a volunteer firefighter for 30 years – eight of those years as chief. He spent six years on city council, works tirelessly for youth on the Super Youth Roundup for the Howard County Fair, and he also smokes hams for 4H and the FFA. He is also the “voice” of local truck and tractor pulls, announces basket bingo, Barker Grant for 12 years, and led the project to secure and install the sound systems at the fairgrounds.
“Wally is a tremendous person who has done a lot for the people of Fayette,” said Spielbauer. “We are proud to recognize him as Optimist Citizen of the Year.”
Eaton’s caring personality and commitment is evident on the campus of CMU, where he has worked for 25 years.
“He’s a very dedicated employee and exemplifies the CMU mission,” said Derry Wiswall, CMU director of Plant Operations. “He’s always willing to do the little extras and he treats every student he encounters in a special way, making them know he really cares about them.”
CMU is Eaton’s “number two home and I absolutely bleed green. It’s a very, very big part of my life.”
He gives credit to those who shaped him over the years, building him into the man he is today.
He said mentors “like George Hilgedick, gave me a little nudge and taught me how to give back. We’ve got to teach the younger guys and take them under our wing. Small communities rely on volunteerism. We don’t have all the assets that bigger places have, but we have the volunteers.”
Eaton credits his father, Larry Eaton, who passed away almost a year ago, for instilling such a strong work ethic in him. He also credits his dear friends Marvin Hilgedick and Benjie Conrow, and his wife, Kim.
In addition to Eaton’s honor, the Optimists also recognized CMU alumna Stacie Beaman as Teacher of the Year. She is completing her eighth year at Daly Elementary. The Rotary presented the Business Leader of the Year Award to Glen Hilgedick of Hilgedick Electric Service in Fayette.