Star Awards 2012

Star Awards 2012

Star Awards 2012: Take the number of years that Warren Lawrence has spent in each of the organizations or activities that benefit others in his community, state and country, add them together, and you come up with more than 365 years of service.
"A little piece here, a little piece there; after a while it adds up," Lawrence says nonchalantly.
"I didn't think about it until I read the … (STAR Awards nomination) they put together and I said, 'My gosh, no wonder I'm tired!"

STAR Award winners

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Lawrence's dedicated service to the Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation, Vicksburg Rotary, Vicksburg Historical Society, Vicksburg Historic Village, Vicksburg Foundation, Nottawa Stone School Restoration and Operations Committee, Michigan National Guard, Michigan Emergency Volunteers, Camp Grayling Officers Club Board, U.S. Army and State Guard Association of the United States is mind-boggling to almost everyone but Lawrence, who brushes praise aside by suggesting others are just as involved as he is.

"I'm always busy, but others are busy, too," said the 78-year-old Lawrence, citing his wife, Jacqueline, and six grown children as examples. The Lawrences also have 11 grandchildren.
Not only for his involvement in a multitude of areas over the past 60 years, but also for his leadership in those areas, Lawrence is this year's winner of the STAR Awards' Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award.
"His good humor is brought to bear at every meeting he attends and in that way he is able to get the maximum help from those around him to get even the littlest or biggest jobs accomplished," Carol Lohman wrote in the nomination she submitted on behalf of the Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation.
Established 29 years ago with Lawrence as a charter trustee, the Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation has benefited from his enthusiasm for supporting innovation in teaching and learning, leading fund-development activities, speaking to school employees, students, parents, alumni and community groups, and writing a large part of the annual report.
Lawrence also supports other school foundations through the exchange of information and ideas, saying "when the water goes up in the harbor, all the boats go up."
The Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation has more than $1 million in endowed assets to fund scholarships and school projects that, according to the nomination statement, is "partly due to his diligence and wisdom."
As a Vicksburg Rotarian for 40 years, including two terms as president, Lawrence has contributed to numerous community projects and improvements, has been a member of the Vicksburg Showboat cast and crew and has worked on behalf of the Rotary Foundation Endowment.
A founder 42 years ago and past president of the Vicksburg Historical Society, Lawrence was a major player in obtaining a defunct depot from New York Central Railroad to serve as a museum and also led the planning for the Vicksburg Historic Village, and now not only sits on its board, but also is a hands-on force in maintaining its buildings.
Lawrence also spent nearly 38 years in the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard, retiring from the latter with the rank of brigadier general.
Beginning as a private in the Guard in 1952, when he was a senior in high school, Lawrence quickly advanced into leadership roles, including nine years as commander of Kalamazoo's Company C, 156th Signal Battalion, before advancing in the state ranks.
His active duty with the Army spanned three years in the mid-1950s.
When the state Legislature created the Michigan Emergency Volunteers in 1988, Gov. John Engler appointed Lawrence as deputy director.
All of these undertakings occurred in addition to Lawrence's educational pursuits and career. A 1953 graduate of Portage High School who has bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Michigan University, Lawrence spent seven years as a teacher and administrator in the Portage schools and then was with the former Kalamazoo Valley Intermediate School District for 25 years as director of the regional educational media center.
He and Jacqueline, to whom he has been married for 54 years, also owned the Vicksburg Commercial-Express newspaper for nine years.
Years ago, Lawrence found a sign in a barracks that was being torn down at Fort Custer. It read: "There's this about duty — it never ends."
He had it framed and placed it on his fireplace where it served as a reminder to him and his family that service to others is infinite.
"Volunteering will go on after we've gone. That's the way it is," he said. "That's what I've always done, and that's the way I've raised my children. It's a duty that never ends."

Star Awards 2012