Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper

Sidney's Gaston to be inducted into Jaycee's Hall of Fame

The former mayor of Sidney and local pharmacist Wendall Gaston will be inducted into the Nebraska Jaycee Hall of Fame on Saturday in Lincoln.

The Jaycees organization is a nonprofit group that provides development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change in their communities.

"I've learned a lot of different things from my time with the Jaycees, it's been a very good experience," Gaston said.

Gaston, who was nominated by city manager Gary Person, joined the Sidney Jaycees in 1978 and served as local chapter president in 1979-80.

"Being selected to the Nebraska Jaycee Hall of Fame is a wonderful deserved honor for Wendall," said Person.

Person said the Jaycee organization prides itself on teaching leadership development through community.

"Wendall used his Jaycee experiences in helping him nurture a very successful professional career, as well as continue his commitment to volunteer community service in many leadership roles," Person said.

For the Nebraska Jaycees, Gaston served as the district director, region director and area 1 vice president.

Gaston said he became a senator for the Jaycees in the 1980s, which less than 1 percent of people who join the Jaycees get to do.

"He was the local president in 1979 and over the next two decades the chapter continued to grow," Person said. "By 1990, it became the largest Jaycee chapter in the world for a community under a 15,000 population."

Gaston has also served as the local president for many organizations in Sidney, including the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis and the Chamber of Commerce. He has also served three terms as Sidney mayor and currently serves as vice-mayor.

In 2011, Gaston was the recipient of the Hubert H. Humphrey Award by the American Pharmacy Association to recognize his contributions in civic, government and legislative services.

Among his many accomplishments, he is a nationally recognized motivational speaker known as the "Phunny Pharmer" to play on words of his profession. Gaston is a past state president of the Nebraska Pharmaceutical Association and was on the executive board of the Nebraska League of Municipalities.

"Many significant community projects have been successfully completed by the Jaycees in Sidney throughout its proud history," Person said. "Wendall's impact was significant during his era and this is the crowning achievement of recognition for what he has done locally and state wide as well as the impact he has had in leadership roles.

Gaston will be the 39th member to be inducted into the Nebraska Jaycee Hall of Fame, so it was a real surprise to him when he found out he was nominated.

"It was shocking to actually be elected," Gaston said, "To be inducted really is humbling."

Gaston will be honored at the 2014 Year End Convention hosted by the Nebraska Jaycee Foundation in Lincoln. He is the third inductee from Sidney, following Person in 2009 and the late Benny Hochman in 1993.

 

Reader Comments(0)