John Sutton recognized for volunteerism

[April 29, 2008]  On Friday, the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County had its annual dinner celebrating 21 years as a tourism bureau. During the event, five people were recognized for their work with the tourism bureau. Bob McCue, Alberta Hellman, Shirley Bartelmay and Gail Apel-Sasse, all board members of the bureau, were recognized for their exceptional service. The final award, called the Friend of Tourism award, was created last year in order to recognize individuals who have done the most for tourism in the county.

This year's recipient of the Friend of Tourism award was John Sutton, known for his volunteerism throughout the county. Tourism director Geoff Ladd said that Sutton didn't even know he was being given an award. "Had he known about it, he wouldn't have come, he's that humble," Ladd said. Sutton has done a lot of tourism-related work over the years, including volunteering with the Railsplitter Festival, repairing the Railsplitter Covered Wagon, working on the old Mill restoration project and regularly volunteering at Postville Courthouse State Historic Site.

(See award text below.)

The Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County thanks everyone who came out to the Maple Club for the annual dinner, as well as John Sutton, Bob McCue, Gail Apel-Sasse, Alberta Hellman and Shirley Bartelmay for their service and dedication to tourism in Logan County.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County]

(Sutton with some of his carvings on display at the 2000 Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival )

---

FRIEND OF TOURISM AWARD
John Sutton
2008

John Sutton defines the meaning of the word "volunteer" when it comes to the contributions he has made to our community and to tourism. John has worn many hats and donates an extraordinary amount of time on various local projects, including his work for Habitat for Humanity, the Route 66 Heritage Foundation, the Bike Trails committee, the Arts & Crafts Guild, Postville Courthouse, the Railsplitter Covered Wagon, the Logan Railsplitting Association and the National Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln.
 
These are just some of the many acts of generosity that John Sutton is known for throughout Logan County.
 
We thank him from the bottom of our hearts!
Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County
21st Anniversary Celebration – April 25, 2008