Making A Difference Winner Gary Clawson

If you were to open Webster's Dictionary to this quote, a picture of Gary Lee Clawson would likely appear. For most of his life Gary has served as a servant of the people, always helping others any way he possibly can. Gary strongly believes that he was "gifted" with this quality by his parents. A retired music teacher from the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake School District, Gary Clawson is never short on words. Fortunately his words have come to mean a lot, and to a lot of people.

Gary is a lifelong resident of the Lorain County area. His grandfather, Howard Walker, was the second mayor of Avon Lake. In fact Walker Road, a main thoroughfare through the Avon/Avon Lake area, was named after the Walker family. Gary has direct ancestors that resided in Lorain County prior to the year 1850, thus allowing for placement of the name as a founding family in the "First Families of Lorain County" directory. One of the big reasons for Gary's commitment to his community could certainly be traced back to his heritage.

Born in Avon, Gary attended Avon Schools for his first 11 years, and then transferred and graduated from Berea High School, which is where he met his wife Karen, who will be celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary in August! Gary and Karen raised two daughters and now have three wonderful grandchildren, ages 2, 3, and 15. After high school and college, Karen went on to become a registered nurse, while Gary obtained his bachelor's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, and then his Master's degree from Kent State University. Gary, an avid trumpet player since childhood, devoted the next 30 years of his life to teaching music in the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake School District. During that time he also shared his talents by helping others learn music through private music lessons.

Of his years spent teaching, Gary most enjoyed knowing that he was making a positive difference in the lives of young adults. He affectionately tells the story of running into the mother of one of his students who told Gary that the only reason her daughter Tammy held on and finished school to begin with was because of him. She also explained to Gary that Tammy is now working on her Ph.D. The mother ended her conversation with Gary with a big hug. A hug and a smile reflective of the positive impact Gary had on his students. After 30 wonderful years of teaching, one can only imagine how many lives Gary has touched in such a positive way.

In addition to his teaching career, Gary has worked for 28 years "on the side" at Avon's Bob-o-Link Golf Course. Gary jokingly refers to his tenure at the course as "a jack of all trades and master of none". Amongst other services, he has served as a licensed applicator, applied fertilizers, a grounds keeper, and has operated and serviced their irrigation systems. For the past ten years Gary has served as the secretary of his golf league, which has approximately 100 members. Gary has been an active member of the Lake Shore United Methodist Church in Avon Lake for the past 42 years and currently serves on 3 church committees.

As you can see, Gary Clawson's desire to help people is not something he woke up one day and decided he'd do. Gary doesn't try to help others simply because "it's the right thing to do". Rather, Gary's desire to help people is who he is. In days of troubled communities, closing schools, high crime rates and divorce, Gary serves as a reminder of what's good in this world. He has never allowed the challenges of everyday life to taint the good he "sees" in people.

As an additional note...Gary Clawson has been legally blind since 2002.

Not only has Gary not used that as an excuse for not being so involved in helping others, he's done the opposite; Gary has used his blindness as yet another way to be of service to others. Amongst other things, Gary has started a low-vision support group, the first of its kind in the Avon Lake community. His group meets monthly at the Old Firehouse Community Center in Avon Lake. He has established himself as a valuable resource to others with vision-impairment. Gary has also founded an annual Vision Fair which he holds in conjunction with both the City of Avon Lake and Avon Lake's Independence Village.

Gary prides himself as serving as a resource for others with low-vision concerns. Gary's work with the vision-impaired is only a small part of the bigger picture of who Gary Clawson is. Not only for the work he has done with the vision-impaired community; but for touching the lives of so many people, in such a positive way. Gary Clawson truly does believe in service to others before self.