Tribute to President Gary
Gary Pittenger was a Jaycee. Sounds rather simple and obvious but emphasis is in the fact that Gary was a JAYCEE! His commitment to community began years before joining. He was a Boy Scout and earned the level of Eagle Scout – not an easy task. That was Pitt. Fresh from the Air Force and college, he joined the Morton Jaycees. Three years later he served as their president. This Eagle Scout was an Outstanding Local President. From there an Outstanding State Chairman, an Outstanding District Director, an Outstanding Regional Director, and an Outstanding State Vice President. Ten years after joining the Morton Jaycees, he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois in 1982. Senator #24804 brought his leadership to the JCI Senate. Served the Illinois Senate in numerous capacities notably as chair of the Outstanding Young Persons banquet for the Illinois Jaycees for several years. A program recognized as the Outstanding RTF repeatedly. In 1997 he was inducted into the Illinois Jaycee Hall of Fame. As Illinois President he was a Thomas Humphrey Award winner. The National JCI Senate was his next frontier. There he served as US JCI Senate Constitution & By-laws Committee, World Congress Administrative Chairman, PIE Chairman, Region V National Vice President, and Membership Information Services Program Manager (9 years). Awards: Ira Moser, Outstanding NVP, Outstanding Appointed Officer (6 times), and the Ron Robinson Memorial Award.
Service to humanity was his life. His ultimate dream was to be USJCI Senate President. That dream happened and he was ready to propel each and every one of us to our DESTINATION LEGACY. Gary truly believed that there are three kinds of people in this world, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what is happening. His dream and theme was to guide others to be that first group of people. Physically it was short lived, but HIS legacy lives on as we all will ensure that DESTINATION LEGACY will run its full course. Throughout all that he did, he followed a star perhaps none of us can see and, like his favorite karaoke song, he did it his way. Gary Pittenger Senator #24804, was a JAYCEE!
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