DANVILLE — The Danville Chapter of AMBUCS has chosen Gary Resh as the 2024 recipient of the annual First Citizen award.
“I was stunned,” Gary said on learning of the recognition.
He said the recognition means a lot to him for his community service.
“It’s just recognition for working all these years. It’s been 50 years since I got out of college,” Gary said. He will be 75 in June.
After college he started working with the Danville Art League and other arts-related groups.
He said he was amazed when he was told he was named First Citizen.
“There are 90 wonderful people I’m following up on,” Gary said.
He said his advice to younger people is to get involved in groups in your community that pique your interest. That way you will enjoy it.
“I got more involved with the arts sides, in all the different arts,” Gary said about the art league, Red Mask, symphony guild, at the time, and others.
He said young people can get involved in groups that really interest them, and it’s worthwhile and valuable to the community.
“It makes you feel better,” he said about volunteering and participating in the community.
Gary is the owner of Resh Frame Shop where he creates beautifully crafted custom framing and woodcarving.
Supporting him in all of his endeavors is his wife, Doris Resh.
The Resh family takes pride in that other families have treasured their frames and hand-crafted wooden ornaments through the years.
Gary has been a pillar in the Danville community for more than 50 years. He currently serves on the boards of the Danville Area Community College Foundation and the Vermilion County War Museum. He is a past board member of the United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation and Danville Public Library Foundation in which he served as president for three of the 10 years of being a board member.
He also has served as a board member for OSF formerly known as Presence Medical Center for 10 years and many other boards including the Danville Art League, Danville Symphony, Danville Symphony Guild, Red Mask Players, Danville Area Arts Council, Bi-Centennial Committee, Arts in the Park, Inc., and was a founding member and president for the annual Festival of Trees event.
Gary continues to be an active member of the Festival of Trees and is a current tree designer. He is also in charge of the signage for the event as well. Gary volunteers his talents, services, and time which help to make Festival of Trees a success.
Gary has poured his heart into this community and continues to find ways to give back. Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Illinois University in 1971. Eventually, Gary and his wife Doris established a scholarship at DACC for students studying business.
Gary is a man with a very giving heart and has donated more than 30 blankets that he personally crocheted to the OSF Bobbette Steely Hegeler Cancer Care Center for patients undergoing chemotherapy, AMBUCS officials stated.
Selfless, compassionate, generous, thoughtful, genuine in nature, and always willing to lend a hand are just a few qualities described by those who know him, AMBUCS officials said.
Gary exemplifies the definition of what it means to be a First Citizen by choosing to make a positive impact within the Danville community and for all who encounter his exceptional presence, the AMBUCS group continued.
The local AMBUCS group says, “Congratulations Gary.”
The First Citizen award is given to a Danville area man or woman who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the community through a single or multiple projects, personally or professionally.
The most recent recipients have included Erich Hannah, Dean Carlton, Danville Essential Workers, Wendy Lambert and Rose Gates.
AMBUCS is a national charitable organization dedicated to inspiring mobility for people with disabilities. AMBUCS also provides therapeutic tricycles (AmTrykes) and special handicapped parking signage in the community.
AMBUCS local projects include a summer camp, Christmas breakfast, baseball league for children with disabilities, Super Soccer event, as well as providing more than $10,000 in scholarships for students studying in the physical therapy and special education fields.
AMBUCS has partnered with the city to build and update AMBUCS Playground for Everyone in Winter Park, AMBUCS Independence Playground in Lincoln Park and AMBUCS Sprayground for Everyone at the Danville Municipal Pool at Garfield Park.
There will be a banquet on June 6 at Turtle Run Banquet Center in Danville in Gary’s honor. Celebration details will be forthcoming.