Greg Yates received the 2019 Distinguished Citizen award Monday during the Clark County Distinguished Citizens dinner.

The dinner hosts, the Clark County Friends of Scouting Committee, also accepted donations during the event. Every donation supports youth who want to participate in the Scouting program by providing membership registration scholarships, uniform and handbook assistance and summer camp and activity scholarships.

The Blue Grass Council has a policy it never turns a youth away because of the inability to pay. Clark County Scouting programs include four Cub Scout packs, four Boy Scout troops and two Exploring posts.

Ernie Sammons, Blue Grass Boy Scouts of America board member, talked about Scouting’s impact during the program.

“Scouting has had a positive impact in this community and the nation for 109 years,” Sammons said. “It’s important we keep it going for future generations.”

The 2018 Distinguished Citizen, Berl Perdue, presented the award to Yates.

Yates, who served in the Army National Guard and U.S. Army from 1980 until retiring as a Major in 2004, is the executive director of Partners In Education.

Yates also recently accepted the Community Education coordinator position for Clark County Public Schools. He serves on the Clark County Extension Council, Chamber of Commerce board of directors, George Rogers Clark High School Youth Services Advisory Council, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Bio-Med Advisory Council and the PLTW Engineering Advisory Council.

Yates is the vice president for the Chamber of Commerce Business Enhancement Sustainment Team Committee and chair of the Campbell Junior High School Youth Services Center Advisory Council.

Yates is also the president-elect of the Winchester Kiwanis Club.

He owns and operates his business, Major Dads Military Surplus, alongside his wife of 20 years, Denise. The Yates have resided in Winchester since 2005 and have two children, Grissom and Ainsley.

Perdue said he didn’t have any funny stories about Yates, as Yates is always in business-mode.

“He’s all business,” Perdue said. “ … He rolls his sleeves up, and he gets to work, and he gets the job done. There’s no ‘we’ll get it done tomorrow.’”

Yates said he was “deeply humbled” to be selected.

“I strongly recommend to everyone here tonight that, especially for the younger kids, always make the effort to serve your fellow man,” Yates said.

Yates closed his acceptance speech with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that he lives by: “Whatever your life’s work is, do it well.”