Bill Gay receives District 6970 Service Above Self-Award
William W. “Bill” Gay was selected for the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville District 6970 Rotary Service Above Self Award on 8/12/09. The award was presented by the District Governor, Dave Faraldo and President of the West Jacksonville Rotary Club, John Runion. Bill is a charter member of the club that was formed on 6/16/1967. He was President in 1972-73 and has perfect attendance since he joined the club 42 years ago. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and received the Robert Shircliff Service Above Self Award in 1985. He has also sponsored several members over the past 42 years. He was recognized in 1997 for the Frank W. Sherman Award for Distinguished Service Exemplifying the Highest Ideals of Rotary from the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville and in 1999 received the Boys Scouts Class of Eagles Award from the Rotary Club of Jacksonville. Mr. Gay is involved in Rotary by giving of his talents, money and time. Joe Springer, Director of Service Project, commented that he enjoys see Bill Gay and fellow Rotarian Frank Houser every year ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army.
His classification is Construction Services and is CEO of W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor; Inc. Bill is married to Eloise and has four children, eleven grand children and eleven great grandchildren.
Besides being an active Rotarian and being involved in several Professional Memberships, he is and has been extremely active in the Community. For example, the following are just some of his Civic/Service Memberships and Recognitions:
1. Past Director of YMCA Board
2. Past President and Current Board Member of the Gator Bowl Association
3. Life Member Navy League of the United States
4. Chairman for Channel 7 Auction 1976
5. Past President of NF Council Boys Scouts of America
6. Past Chairman of the Board of the Methodist Hospital and Methodist Hospital Foundation, Inc.
7. Past Chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce Committee 1974
8. Past President of the Board of Junior Achievement
9. Past Chairmen of the Board of Trustees of Jacksonville University 1987 – 1991
10. Chairmen of Youth Activities Committee of I.M.P.A.C.T. Inc.
11. Past Board member of the City Rescue Mission
12. Board of Directors Jacksonville Health Education Programs, Inc. JHEP
13. Jacksonville Advisory Committee for Mersey Ships 1994
14. Past Chairmen of the Ronald McDonald House
15. Board of Directors Shands Jacksonville 1998-1999
16. Board of Directors Prisoners of Christ
17. Board of Trustees Flager College 1999 – Present
18. Silver Beaver Award Boy Scouts of America 1979
19. National Conference of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award.
20. Sales and Marketing Executives of Jacksonville Top Management Award 1975
21. Potentate’s “Unsung” Shiner of the Year 1981 Morocco temple
22. Boys Scouts North Florida Council Distinguished Citizen Award 1982
23. Jacksonville Jaycees Jack Donnell Award Outstanding Businessmen 1982
24. ASHRAE National ALCO Medal for Distinguished Public Service 1983
25. F. Judd Beckwith Meritorious Service Award 1986 for Exceptional Service to Our Community.
26. Colonel Harry Kinne Enterprise Award Jacksonville University 1993
27. Pillars of the Industry Award- NF Builders Association 1995 for Outstanding Industry and Community Service.
28. 1996 Distinguished America Award from NF Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for Standard of Excellence in a life of service to the community.
29. 1999 Humanitarian Award from the Jacksonville United Labor Alliance
30. 1999 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.
31. 2000 Jacksonville City Council resolution honoring Mr. Gay for outstanding Philanthropic Contributions
32. 2004 Bernard Gregory Servant Leader Award from Volunteer Jacksonville
On the day Mr. Gay received the award he was even recognized along with two other fellow West Jacksonville Rotarians, Robert Shircliff and William Scheu, as one of Jacksonville’s 50 Most influential People in the August 2009 publication of the “904” Jacksonville Magazine. Bill Gay has demonstrated and lived the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self”. The Rotary Club of West Jacksonville is proud to have Bill as a member and proud to have honored him with this award.
