About 50 people were present Sunday afternoon in the courthouse rotunda when Doug Hawn of rural Scranton was honored with the Greene County Impact Award.
Hawn was referred to as the “go-to” person in matters of information technology (IT) at the Greene County Law Enforcement Center and for sound systems for both indoor and outdoor events. His contributions to the county lie in three primary areas, and presenters on the program talked about all three.
Greene County Fair: Denny Lautner, a 27-year member of the Greene County Fair board, spoke of Hawn’s contributions to the Greene County Fair. Hawn has served as fair board secretary for 32 years. Lautner said Hawn spends hundreds of hours each year both in physical labor and administrative tasks. Hawn farms 2,000 acres, and he provides use of his tractors, skid loaders, load-alls, blades, and even a high lift to fair volunteers. He provides sound equipment for the grandstand, livestock barns and show arena every summer. He personally donated the appliances in the renovated Clover Hall, large fans and a cooler unit, the digital sign board at the fairgrounds entrance, and uncounted yards of cement.
On the technology side, he designed the spreadsheets and data bases now used for the 4-H and open art hall exhibits, and the accounting/clerking/settlement for the fair auction. He also prepares the annual report of the fair for ISU Extension & Outreach, the Greene County board of supervisors, and other interested groups.
Lautner said Hawn has been involved long enough that he knows the location of every sewer line, water line, electrical line and even two time capsules on the fairgrounds.
Hawn was awarded the state Fair Man of the Year in 2012 by the Association of Iowa Fairs. Only one award is given each year.
Law Enforcement Center and E-9-1-1: County sheriff Steve Haupert and county emergency management director Dennis Morlan talked about Hawn’s contributions to law enforcement and the 9-1-1 board. Hawn served as a sheriff’s deputy for 12 years before returning fulltime to the home farm. “He has maintained a commitment to the Law Enforcement Center and to law enforcement in the county in general,” Haupert said.
Hawn has made a sustained effort to keep the LEC as current in technology as possible. “Doug is our IT go-to guy for most everything we do. There are things we ask for a more expert opinion on, but he gives us the direction when to do that,” Haupert said.
Morlan talked about the 9-1-1 rural address system Hawn devised in 1992. He explained that the system is so logical that all emergency responders can easily locate any address in the county. “I deeply appreciate our addressing system. It’s all Doug’s. He put it together and he put it together right,” Morlan said. “It was solid to start with and it’s solid today.”
Morlan said Hawn assigns all new rural addresses according to the system, and he maintains the data base of every telephone number in the county. He also praised Hawn’s fast response to anything that arises in the 9-1-1 system.
Sound equipment and engineering: Don Van Gilder was there to talk about Hawn’s volunteer service as a sound engineer. Hawn has provided equipment and expertise for more than 30 Bell Tower Festivals, although the festival falls at a very busy time for farmers. “He’s the go-to guy for anything ‘sound’ in the county,” Van Gilder said. “I think of ‘impact’ as when something is done so well it doesn’t draw attention to itself, and then I think ‘What would we do without Doug?’”
Dawn Rudolph, who is on the county board of supervisors, was there to present a proclamation to Hawn naming May 4, 2014, as Doug Hawn Day in the county. Rudolph lives in Scranton, and she told of working with Hawn as a member of the Scranton Alumni Association and the Scranton Community Center board. “If there’s a gadget, a tool, or anything you need, Doug has it. I didn’t know there were so many tools out there,” she said. “We’re very blessed to have him in our community. He gives so much, and it’s very appreciated.”
Jerry Roberts served as emcee for the afternoon. “There isn’t a celebration he hasn’t been to behind the scenes, providing sound, or an event that has happened that he hasn’t been there to support in some way,” Robert said.
Prior to the actual award presentation, Roberts asked for comments from those in attendance. Lawrence Geisler, a member of the Impact Award board and the first recipient of the award, mentioned that Hawn provided the sound system for a Catholic outdoor mass held at Spring Lake several years ago, and for the annual Praise in the Park organized by the Baptist Church of Churdan.
Retired hardware store owner Don Orris shared a story of the many times Hawn put items he purchased for projects at the fairgrounds on his personal account, saying he might end up taking the purchases home when the fair was over. Orris said, though, that it was expendable items like paint, nails and screws.
Chop Gibson commended Hawn. “Everybody in Greene County ought to imitate this man right here. He doesn’t complaint about things; he does things. We have too many complainers, not do-ers like Doug Hawn here. He’s a do-er.”
Chris Henning, executive director of the Greene County Chamber, told of Hawn’s decision to move the afternoon plaza stage events of last summer’s Bell Tower Festival to the Community Center. The decision was made before the parade began, based on weather radar. Hawn was correct almost to the minute about when the rain would start. “Who would think you’d get a weather man and a sound man in one?” she said.
Roberts presented the award and Hawn made very brief comments. “I do thank everyone. Most of you know that I do this for fun more than anything. This is my involvement in the community… It’s all of you that make my job easier and fun to do. I appreciate that from all of you. Thank you very much.”
Hawn’s involvements: Greene County Fair board secretary; E-9-1-1- board treasurer; Greene County Medical Center board of trustees; Greene County Medical Center Foundation board president; Mutual Insurance board of directors; Scranton Alumni Association; Scranton Community Center board. Previously served on Jefferson city council for 12 years and as an associate director of West Central Coop.
During the Sunday program, musical interludes were provided by Wayne Lautner, Peg Semke and Chuck Radke. Members of the Impact Award board are Roberts, Geisler, Mary Weaver, Teena Toliver, Elaine Schermerhorn and Pat Fagen.
A reception followed the award presentation. ~GreeneCountyNewsOnline
