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Lions Club Hall of Fame |
- October 5, 1929 -- March 4, 2007
Newcastle Newsletter Journal
“Person of the Year”
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“I have been in Newcastle fifty years now,” said Ardys Parrish, in her nomination letter for Carl Hinz, and his wife Mabel.
“In that time, I have been acquainted with a number of people who have worked tirelessly to make Newcastle a better and happier, safer and interesting place to live. (Carl and Mabel are) another team who has quietly done much for the betterment of Newcastle while also raising a fine family and working at their jobs.”
It is this commitment to improving the quality of life in our community that Carl Hinz is recognized as this year's Person of the Year. Not only has Hinz been an active member of several different organizations, but his commitment to these organizations is measured in decades, rather than years.
Hinz is a lifelong member of the Newcastle community, having been born here in 1929. In 1960, he married Mabel Linstrom who had moved to Newcastle a year earlier from Sturgis, South Dakota, and together they raised three children, Michael, David and Janet.
His professional career was as an accountant for Plains Pipeline and then Dickson Brothers, while Mabel worked as a kindergarten teacher in the local school system.
During the years when their children were growing up, Carl served as a Cub Scout Leader and Scout Master, and Mabel volunteered as a Den Mother and Brownie Leader, among other activities. “Anything our kids were involved in, we were helping with,” said Mabel.
However, Hinz is probably most recognized for his longtime membership in the Newcastle Lion's Club. For the past 30 years, he has served as secretary/treasurer of the group and has been a member for 54 years. Next year, he will receive his 55-year membership pin.
“That is where I got into doing volunteer work, through the Lion's Club,” he said. “The major fundraising is our calendar project that we just finished up in December, a 2007 calendar. We have an annual picnic in August and we always present a scholarship to graduating seniors. We usually give two $500 dollar ones. And also we supplied glasses for years and years for children who needed them. The state of Wyoming took over that project, so now we help adults that need glasses that can't afford them. The money we make from the calendar goes in the scholarships and the glasses.”
Another place where Carl is a familiar face is the Corpus Christi Catholic Church. At the church, Carl serves as a Eucharist Christian minister, assisting the priest and doing readings during Mass. He has also been bookkeeper for the finance committee of the parish council for 27 years.
In addition, Carl has been a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's association, for 35 years, and recently gave up being bookkeeper for the group in October, after 33 years in that position.
“We help with things around the Catholic Church, and we also give a scholarship,” he said, about what the group does. “Usually it is a one thousand dollar scholarship for a catholic senior from the local high school.”
Another activity Carl has done is serve as class representative for the All-School Class Reunions. Part of this responsibility includes organizing the parade and keeping track of and contacting various class members to encourage their attendance at the function.
“At least that's only every five years!” he smiled.
Carl often does his volunteer work along with Mabel, who is also active with church activities and has been involved in teaching religious education classes.
Together, they also volunteered for three years with the community Meals on Wheels program, before having to give it up due to Carl's health.
“I thought it was a commitment to help the elderly who cannot get out and who need someone to come in and say 'hello',” said Mabel, about why they wanted to participate with the program. They both retired in 1997, but have kept up a busy schedule in the years since, with Carl continuing his many volunteer activities and Mabel working part-time at the Weston County Library. They continue to be active at the Catholic Church and also spend as much time as possible with their family, including five grandchildren.
“We are just enjoying our retirement and spending time together and with our family,” added Mabel. “And anything that needs to be done at the church, we're always willing to do that.”
When asked why he has dedicated so much of his life to charitable organizations in our community, he responded, “As part of the community I just wanted to make it a better place, a better town.”
And on behalf of the people of this community, we offer our thanks for his efforts.
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