Layton Jackson enters the Book of Golden Deeds

Fort Smith veterinarian Layton Jackson was the surprise recipient of the 68th annual Book of Golden Deeds Award, presented by the Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club at a banquet at Fianna Hills Country Club on Friday (Feb. 1). The selection was made by a Secret Committee of Exchangites from among several nominees submitted by the public.

Now in his 80s, Dr. Jackson was nominated by a number of friends, who cited an impressive list of examples of his year-round concern and care for others. He continues to personally tutor underprivileged children each weekday at Albert Pike Elementary School, as he has done for several years. At Grace Community Church, he tilled and planted a large garden that produced bushels of fresh fruits and vegetables for free distribution to needy families throughout the area.

When the church gymnasium needed repainting for the benefit of its youth group, he took the proceeds of the bake sale to the paint store, and purchased and delivered all of the necessary supplies. Then, according to Dr. Carolyn Moore, on painting day, "Layton proceeded to teach the young and older volunteers how to protect the floor, prep the walls for painting, stir the paint, etc., and then assigned the spaces for each volunteer to paint.  After getting them started, he moved the long tall ladder to one wall, scampered to the top rung, and proceeded to paint the upper walls with a brilliant color.  What a sight to see -- he working away at the top of that ladder — and some of the rest of us on the floor praying that he would be safe!"

Commitment, dedication, devotion, and getting the job done were words repeated on the nomination forms. Grace Community Associate Pastor Sue Kelly said: "Layton is also very involved with our church at the Juvenile Detention Center. He feels strongly that we as Christians, neighbors, citizens are called to provide a way for our young people to lead a productive life even when they've messed up. Once again, Layton's sense of commitment and service to others is exemplified through his actions."

With the support of his wife of 60 years, Mary, Jackson was also cited for repeatedly volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, feeding the homeless, helping with Gulf Coast recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and serving with the Peace Corps, all in a spirit of humility and kindness. In the words of one nomination form, "His outreach knows no bounds. I am ashamed by my pitiful efforts when I see Layton at work."

Jackson joins an impressive list of area citizens, including, just to name a few, Ben Mayo, Stanley Evans, Kay Rodgers, Ed Louise Ballman, Gloria White, Claudia Vaughn and Fred Patton, in being honored with the Book of Golden Deeds.

The Noon Exchange Club invites previous recipients of the award to attend the banquet each year. Those attending this year were Rose Bethell, Janie Glover, Bob Miller, Sam Landrum, Ted Skokos, Mary Prewitt, Art Martin, Ray Baker, Pat Shaw, and Tom and Dorothy Caldarera.

The list of prior Book of Golden Deeds inductees are:

1942 : Mr. George D. Carney, Sr.
1943 : Miss Margaret F. Baird
1944 : Mr. Ben I. Mayo
1945 : Major Carl Miller
1946 : Mr. Clarence F. Byrns
1947 : Mr. R. Earl Farnsworth
1948 : Mr. Charles F. Wilmans
1949 : Judge Joseph Morrison Hill
1950 : Mr. T. Leland Hunt
1951 : Mr. Louis Cohen
1952 : Mr. Ed Wright
1953 : Mr. Stanley E. Evans
1954 : Dr. D. W. Goldstein
1955 : Mr. Elmer H. Cook
1956 : Dr. Ralph Crigler
1957 : Mr. Morgan Wright
1958 : Mrs. Annie Brown
1959 : Mr. R. K. Rodgers
1960 : Mr. Clarence Higgins
1961 : Mrs. Willie Crane
1962 : Miss Ed Louise Ballman
1963 : Dr. Roger B. Bost
1964 : Dr. Fred G. Roebuck
1965 : Mrs. Anne W. Ayers
1966 : Mr. John R. Thompson
1967 : Miss Ruth Armstrong
1968 : Miss Gladys Krone
1969 : Mrs. Alma L. Gallaher
1970 : Mrs. Marie Stone
1971 : Mr. D. L. Ford
1972 : Mrs. Virginia Fort
1973 : Mrs. Roscoe McKee
1974 : Mrs. Gloria White
1975 : Mr. J. Fred Patton
1976 : Mrs. Dorothy Cheyne
1977 : Mr. Tom Futral
1978 : Mr. Edward T. Schrotz
1979 : Mrs. Claudia Vaughn
1980 : Mrs. Rose Bethell
1981 : Mrs. Marionette Thompson
1982 : Mr. Bob Kuykendall
1983 : Mrs. Rose Weinberger
1984 : Mrs. Janie Glover
1985 : Miss Jimmie Delle Caldwell
1986 : Mrs. Vivian Yoes
1987 : Mr. C. Grady Secrest, Sr.
1988 : Mrs. Sylvia Lassen
1989 : Mr. Robert Miller
1990 : Dr. John A. Bayliss
1991 : Dr. Samuel E. Landrum
1992 : Mrs. Nancy J. M. Orr
1993 : Dr. Theodore Skokos
1994 : Mr. Jon Grimm
1995 : Ms. Floy Looper
1996 : Mrs. Mary Prewitt
1997 : Dr. Art Martin
1998 : Mayor Ray Baker
1999 : Mr. Dan Richardson
2000 : Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Chaney
2001 : Mrs. Sandy Parker
2002 : Mrs. Fran Still
2003 : Mrs. Patricia Shaw
2004 : Mr. Bert Wright
2005 : Mrs. Deborah Avillion
2006 : Mrs. Charolette Tidwell
2007 : Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Caldarera
2008 : Mrs. Maureen Didion