Volunteer honored for work at senior center

Bill Petrie receives award for work at Bismarck Senior Center

By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer

BISMARCK — Out of 33 senior centers throughout Southeast Missouri, the Southeast Missouri Agency on Aging honored two volunteers for its Star Award. One of those volunteers is Bismarck’s Bill Petrie, who is the president of the board of directors for the Bismarck Senior Center.

Lana Johnson, the nutrition project director for the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, said it’s quite an honor to get selected for the award.

“This award recognizes outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty as a volunteer,” Johnson said. “It’s quite an honor to be one of the two selected.”

She said this is the fifth year the agency has given out the Star Award.

Petrie was given a trophy and a resolution passed by the Missouri Senate to commemorate his achievement.

“I am honored by this,” he said. “At my age you do what you can. We have so many good people in this town. I always try to do my best and really appreciate this.”

Bismarck Senior Center Administrator Betty Jellinek nominated Petrie for the award. She said she has come to rely heavily on him.

“The position he holds as president of the board is strictly a volunteer position, she said in a letter to the state agency. “One could never tell it to see his dedication toward the center and its clients.”

She said he works behind the scenes, doing the extra work that center would normally have to pay someone to do.

“He’s here each morning from 6:30-7:30 a.m., making sure everything is going smoothly and scheduling time for the things that aren’t,” she said.

She said he gives vegetables out of his own garden to clients of the senior center before their gardens begin to produce.

“He always points out he doesn’t want anyone to go hungry,” Jellinek said. “He loves to barbecue and always makes it a point to come by the senior center an hour early once a month so he can barbecue for the clients. He’ll never stay for a meal, but he always wants to be reassured that there is enough food for everybody.”

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.

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