Every year the board of directors has the pleasure of selecting an individual that has exemplified the traits of our dedicated volunteers to such a degree that they stand out for their efforts. This is a real challenge as so many seem to fit this description. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization and they make everything possible. From the task of cleaning the shop to intricate mechanical work on the 765 or another piece from our fleet, it is all necessary and would not happen without our volunteers.

When we began the selection process in 2011, we reviewed the past year and looked for that standout individual. One name, or should I say, one family, kept coming up as a candidate. George Kester and his sons Daniel and Tyler were an ever-present team from the beginning of the season through the end. They worked on projects such as cleaning the rust out of the tender, washing down the 765-both inside and out, helping to salvage our merchandise that was blown across a parking lot in North Judson, Indiana during a near-tornado, and generally being a dependable and hard-working force.

Along with George and his sons, George’s wife Janet made it all possible by letting us have so much of their family time, and I can imagine providing expertise in helping her boys to clean impossibly dirty clothes.

At one point during the North Judson excursions, George ended up in the hospital for several days when he would just not take a break from the intensive hot weather. Fortunately, all turned out well and Janet let us have him back after a sufficient recovery period.

It is the people like George and his family that truly add a special dimension to our organization. On behalf of all of us, thank you Kesters, we really appreciate your dedication and efforts!