By CAROL TOWNSEND
For The Prairie News
GALVA – Galva Chamber of Commerce President Stacy Hanks presented Dave McClintic the Citizen of the Year award Saturday night at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and dinner buffet held at Mary’s Family Dining.
McClintic was one of several Galva residents honored at the annual event.
McClintic was nominated by his daughter Tarol Suddeth. Dave and his wife Nancy came to Galva in 1973 with their four children from Jonesville, Mich. He had traveled with a group looking for a town to build a new Bob Evans plant. He met with several Galva men who were very interested in having the plant built here. Dave was the manager of the plant as soon as it was built.
He became very active in Galva, as he is a past member of the Lions Club, a member of the Masonic Lodge, has helped with Boy Scouts, is a current member of the Galva Arts Council and Rotary Club, past President of the Galva Senior Citizen board and currently helps with the Galva Food Pantry.
McClintic was appointed mayor of Galva after the death of Mayor James Young, as he was an alderman at the time. He is also the Supervisor of the Galva Township Board.
Dave and Nancy purchased McKays Bar and Grill after he retired and ran the popular establishment on Market Street for 19 years.
Nancy is a retired teacher in the Galva School District.
Dave spends his summers mowing at the Galva Cemetery and also helps decorate the downtown for Christmas.
McClintic thanked everyone and recalled that his dad had said everyone needs to give back whenever they get a chance.
The McClintic family was well represented Saturday night. Dave and Nancy have four grown children, Tami, Traci, Todd and Tarol, 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Also recognized as Friends of the Chamber were Gary and Shearon Armel, who were nominated by Melissa Halsall. Gary was commended for his time as second ward alderman for the City of Galva. He also volunteered and mowed the lot uptown where the former Best building was torn down. He also weeded in the downtown area.
Gary and Shearon also donated the Hayes Planter mural on the wall of the former Best Building in the downtown area. Shearon also worked at the Galva Public Library.
In other business at the annual meeting, Adam Jaquet welcomed a large crowd to the event.
Dr. Colleen Lewis was thanked for serving as Galva Harvest Queen Pageant director since 2009. Lewis thanked the chamber for sponsoring the pageant and introduced the new director, Deb Meyer.
Jaquet said that there were three new businesses in Galva in 2021: Old Bank Coffee and Tea, Andrew Gray Photo and Rambling Rose.
He introduced three city officials that were present: Mayor Rich Volkert, City Admministrator David Dyer and third ward alderman Dougie Anderson.
Rip Everett and Will Thompson were recognized as past Citizen’s of the Year who were in attendance.
While there was no annual meeting last year due to COVID, awards were given during a concert at Wiley Park.
Last year’s Friends of the Chamber were also recognized: Teri Volkert, Tina Hutchison, Peggy Jennings, Nancy Anderson and Diane Gibson. The ladies made and sold masks and donated their profits to Galva’s Freedom Fest. And Dan Rux was recognized as last year’s Galva Citizen of the Year.
