By TESA CULLI
tesa.culli@register-news.com
MT. VERNON —
Smiles and laughter mixed with humility and gratitude Friday during the 13th Annual Senior Saints Hall of Fame Banquet.
Twelve local residents were honored for their years of service to the community, the first time many had received a public thanks for the contributions they have made to Jefferson County.
“This is extremely important,” Senior Saints Committee Chairman David Keen said. “These are individuals who have been involved in a lot of activities, and it’s time to honor those who have done so much for all of us. Most believe they don’t deserve it, but they do, and this is our time to say thanks and show our appreciation.”
Inductees into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame this year are Author Buesking, Elvira Canzanella, Norma Colwell, Wilbur Haley, Bill Johnston, Charles “Chief” Moore, Joyce Poorman, Bill Short, the late Linda Short, Susan Rogers, Elder Robert Whiteside and Judith York.
The feelings of humility and gratitude for the honor were present as inductees spoke, and as they talked among themselves.
“When I first heard about it, I was kinda overwhelmed,” Short said. He and his late wife, Linda, were both chosen as 2010 Senior Saints. Linda Short passed away earlier this year. “I didn’t know what to say. ... I’m here to represent (Linda) in a big way.”
Canzanella said she couldn’t “figure out what the saint thing was all about.”
“I couldn’t figure out who would nominate me,” Canzanella said. “I wondered who had been watching me.”
“It’s quite an honor,” Colwell said. “There’s so many other people I thought should have it, but I’m proud and honored.”
Whiteside said he is still “flying high” about being chosen.
“I went up and I’m still trying to come down,” Whiteside joked. Whiteside, who has received awards for some of his community service work, said the Senior Saint award is “the best.”
“I count this as the best,” Whiteside said. “That one word, ‘saint’ is important. I’ve been striving to be a saint since 1975, and I’ve reached a point on earth where I can accept the word. I want to be Christ-like, and if I keep on the walk I’m on, I know one day I’ll be with God, and a real saint with Jesus.”
Haley said when he heard about being chosen as a Senior Saint, he couldn’t believe it.
“I’m not used to things like that,” Haley said. “I didn’t feel like I was. A Senior Saint isn’t something I expected. ... It’s a great honor.”
Senior Saints are chosen by nominating applications which are accompanied by three letters of recommendation. The information is then given to a panel of judges from outside the county, who determine those who will be inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame each year. The pictures of each inductee is on public display in the Rolland Lewis Community Building at Veterans Park.
In addition, the inductees will be featured during the Southern Illinois Harvest Festival parade on Oct. 16.
