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Rotary honors Wheeler as 2014 COY




James Wheeler was named this year’s Jackson Rotary Club Citizen of the Year. Wheeler will be formally honored at the annual banquet on March 18 at First United Methodist Church.

James Wheeler was named this year’s Jackson Rotary Club Citizen of the Year. Wheeler will be formally honored at the annual banquet on March 18 at First United Methodist Church.

When the Jackson Rotary Club sought entries for 2014 Citizen of the Year, the requirements stated that the work done by nominees should, “be above and beyond one’s own vocation, which benefited the people of the Jackson area.”

With these qualifications, it came as no surprise when James Wheeler’s name was called. It appeared the only one caught off guard was Wheeler himself, who said he was surprised and honored.

“I really thank the people that thought enough of me to nominate me. I really appreciate the people that were on the selection committee,” he said. “I’m really honored that I was selected.”

Wheeler, who manages Alabama Power’s Jackson and Grove Hill offices, said growing up in church and his military background helped him become community minded at an early age. He said public service is very important to him, no matter the task.

“I try to do what I can to help people whether it is big or small,” he said. “There are a lot of little bitty things that contribute to the success of a lot of programs and touch a lot of people’s lives. A lot of times it’s the little things that people don’t want to get involved in because there is a lot of manual work in it. I’m used to hard work, and if I can do something to help somebody I want to do that.”

Helping others in need just comes naturally to him, Wheeler said. He said when he was growing up in Troy his family stressed serving his fellow man.

“We’re all children of God, and if we say that we are followers of Christ then we have an obligation and a duty to serve each other in whatever capacity that we can,” he said. “Some people are blessed with a lot and some people are blessed with a little, but it’s all about a responsibility to help people.”

Wheeler serves on the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Alabama Southern Community College Board of Directors, is a member of the Jackson Rotary Club and a steward and trustee of Wilson Chapel AME Church in Grove Hill. He said he tries to give back to the community because so many people helped him along the way.

One of his favorite causes are Jackson schools, Wheeler said.

“If it involves children, you can count me in,” he said. “I believe in helping children and believe it is important to educate them so they can help themselves. I used to tell my daughter all the time to take advantage of every opportunity to educate herself so she never had to be totally dependent on anybody. If you don’t educate yourself and don’t get a trade, you’ll be dependent on somebody all of your life, and you can’t give back or help anybody.”

Wheeler worked closely with the Clarke County HIPPY program, serving on the board of directors. At the state conference, he was awarded the Clarke County HIPPY Hero Award for his hard work and support of the program.

Wheeler’s nomination letter outlined his service on the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors stating, “He has always been a very dependable person in helping with all decisions and has worked in making the Fall Festival to be very successful.”

The letter also stated, “James has integrity, honesty and work ethics and is dependable and has received many awards for his hard work and support in all that he does.”

Wheeler is the husband of Jackson Intermediate School Principal Gwen Wheeler and father of Kimberly Wheeler Williams. He has three grandchildren, Noelle, Noah and Timothy.

Wheeler and his family first came to Jackson in 1978 after a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. He retired from the Army and National Guard as a 1st Sgt. and was activated to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the Jackson unit. He graduated from Hobson State Technical College and has a Bachelors degree from the University of Alabama.

As a Chamber of Commerce board member and vice president, Wheeler is constantly recognized for his contributions. He has also been the recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award for “Service Above Self.”


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