2022 BRYAN AREA FOUNDATION GOOD CITIZEN AWARD … In photo left to right: Amy Miller, BAF President/CEO , Robert Rowan, Good Citizen, and Diana Moore Eschhofen, BAF Chairman (PHOTO PROVIDED)
By: Amy Wendt
On Thursday, October 20, the Bryan Area Foundation presented the 2022 Good Citizen Award to Robert Rowan.
This esteemed award, endowed by the Hawk family in memory of their parents, Howard C. and Mary Allene Hawk, has been presented annually to one of Bryan’s outstanding citizens since 1980.
To qualify, nominees must be or have been: a resident of Bryan for at least 20 years; active in unpaid positions in organizations providing services to Bryan; held a leadership position on an area non-profit board and associated with at least one outstanding accomplishment for the Bryan community.
Rowan checked all of those boxes, and then some. He was nominated by Margie Geisler for sharing his time and talents with his community in various capacities for many of the 72 years he has been a Bryan resident.
As an active member of the Charles E. Arnold American Legion Post 284, Rowan served as Commander in 1969-1970 and again in 2019-2020.
Other positions held within the Post by Rowan are historian, webmaster and he also serves as the contact for the Post’s Flags and Poles service.
Rowan has also been active within the veterans’ community by serving as a Trustee for the Williams County Veterans Memorial.
He is also currently a trustee for the Williams County Military Heritage Museum where he has also served as the secretary, webmaster, photographer and public relations liaison over the years.
The Williams County Historical Society and Williams County Genealogy Society also include Rowan on their membership rosters.
For over 63 years, Rowan has been the historian for Wesley United Methodist Church, where he also started a chapter of the Cub Scouts as a Boy Scout Leader.
In the nomination form submitted to the BAL on behalf of Rowan, Geisler expressed, “Robert will serve as a speaker for any organization interested in the history of Bryan and Williams County and has been a speaker numerous times.”
You may have even seen Rowan out and about in the community since he is responsible for maintaining the flags around the downtown Bryan Square and for over 50 years he volunteered as a photographer for the Bryan Times.
BAF President/CEO, Amy Miller says “Mr. Rowan is such a special part of our community and we are so happy to present him this well-deserved honor!”
Amy can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com