Time to submit Mayborn Humanitarian Award nominations Posted On: Sunday, Aug. 16 2009 06:50 AM From staff reports

They recognized a problem and they filled a need.

That special concern and commitment is common among the 11 recipients of the Frank W. Mayborn Humanitarian Award.

The Killeen Daily Herald is again seeking nominations for this prestigious award, which honors an individual or individuals for contributions made to Central Texas.

The award's recipients personify the qualities of the late Frank W. Mayborn, former owner and publisher of the Herald and the Temple Daily Telegram and owner of KCEN-TV.

Among the 11 previous recipients of the award are teachers, physicians, business leaders and retired generals.

Though they came from different walks of life, all shared a common goal: to help make their respective communities better.

The late Jim and Daurice Bowmer, the first recipients

of the award, were honored in 1991 for creating the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children south of Killeen.

The retreat, which offers accommodations and activities for children with a variety of special needs and challenges, is now recognized throughout the state.

The most recent recipient, Temple resident Cynthia Russell is volunteer director for Churches Touching Lives for Christ. She was honored for her 30 years of service and dedication to helping the less fortunate. In addition to volunteering countless hours with CTLC, Russell, a retired teacher, has voluntarily taught GED classes for more than 18 years.

Retired Belton schoolteacher Jeannette Kelley was honored in 2004 for her work with Project Apple Tree and Project Angel Tree.

Kelley worked to help establish the programs in Bell County that have touched the lives of thousands of Central Texans by providing good quality clothing to schoolchildren in need and providing Christmas gifts to children who have a parent incarcerated.

Ten years ago, retired Lt. Gen. Pete Taylor, a former Fort Hood commander, received the award for helping to establish Tarleton State University-Central Texas in Killeen.

In 1994, another local military and civic leader, retired Gen. Robert Shoemaker, was recognized for his service to Army families and the community in preparing for the arrival of a new division at Fort Hood, through the Hood Howdy Task Force.

It is this spirit of commitment to bettering the community that is recognized in the Frank W. Mayborn Humanitarian Award.

Sue Mayborn, editor and publisher of the Herald and the Telegram, established the award in 1991 to honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions of a humanitarian or civic nature.

Frank Mayborn was a communications pioneer, civic leader and philanthropist who made Central Texas his home for more than 60 years until his death in 1987. The award seeks to honor recipients who demonstrate values that Mayborn regarded as important community contributions – hard work, civic-mindedness and improving the lives of others.

"Those who make great contributions to our communities do so without thought of recognition, but because there are needs to be met," Mrs. Mayborn said. "However, we feel it is important to single out some of those extraordinary individuals for the sole purpose of recognition and appreciation."

Nominees for the 2009 award will be accepted through Sept. 21, and can be mailed to the Killeen Daily Herald at P.O. Box 1300, Killeen, TX 76540 or dropped off at the newspaper's office, 1809 Florence Road.

A committee appointed by the companies' board of directors will evaluate the nominations.

Individuals living within the distribution areas of the Killeen Daily Herald and the Temple Daily Telegram are eligible.

Qualified nominees for the Frank W. Mayborn Humanitarian Award will have made recent contributions or demonstrated a lifetime of humanitarian and/or civic involvement and achievement. The nominee must have made a significant contribution to public service.

The contribution to the community must be humanitarian or civic in nature and should be something the nominee has done to benefit the greatest number of people. The nominee must be a Central Texan whose work benefited Central Texas.

The nomination should include a detailed description of the nominee's activities that make him or her a candidate for the award. More thoroughly researched and detailed nominations stand a better chance of succeeding with the selection committee.

Details on the nominating process are located on Page C6 in today's edition.

In addition to those mentioned above, recipients have included:

Dr. Lawrence Frankel, former director of pediatric hematology and oncology at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, was honored in 2002 for his work with young cancer patients.

The late William R. Courtney, the 1998 award recipient, helped bring a 150-bed veterans' nursing home to Temple.

The late Dr. Ralph and Jean Wilson, the 1997 recipients, were honored for their support of the Saulsbury Day Care Center, which serves underprivileged children in east Temple.

Erroll Wendland, the 1995 honoree, led the effort to raise more than $3.8 million and negotiate the purchase of the NationsBank building for a new home for the Temple Public Library.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Jackson, the 1993 recipient, was honored for leading the way to establish the Temple Community Free Clinic.

The late Fred Bandas, honored in 1992, helped establish Martha's Kitchen and the Home of Hope, both in Temple.