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Sunday, January 20, 2002 Halifax Civic League honors Bert ReamesBy LYDA LONGA | News-Journal Staff Writer ORMOND BEACH — Bert Reames has always been in the know when it comes to the community and its activities, but Saturday night the longtime insurance executive had no idea he had been chosen recipient of the Civic League of the Halifax Area's lifetime achievement award. Reames was emotional when he was handed the award, a gleaming crystal bowl honoring his years of community service and achievement in the area since he arrived here from Gainesville in June 1949. "This is too much. I'm just flabbergasted, " Reames said after he received the award. This is a complete surprise." Reames went on to dazzle the black-tie crowd with various jokes and some self-deprecating humor. He turned serious for a moment when he told the crowd it was also important to focus on some of the problems in the community. "It's not all peaches and cream," he said. Known as "Gator" to his friends because he is a graduate of the University of Florida and a steadfast Gators football fan who once received a letter of appreciation from former head football coach Steve Spurrier for his support of the university and its football team, Reames has not stopped participating in and giving back to the community since the early 1950s. "I have never known him to say 'no' to anyone," said Beebe White, chairwoman of the Civic League. "He has been active in the community longer than I can remember." Indeed, the 75-year-old Reames, described as "tireless" by his friends, started becoming involved in local activities in 1953 when he was named membership director of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce. At the time, Reames was also a member of the Lions Club, which he later became president of in 1961. Six years later in 1967 Reames was elected president of the East Volusia-Flagler County Chapter of the American Red Cross and he has served on its board ever since. In 1977 Reames was asked to head the Volusia County United Negro College Fund Campaign, a challenging post because he was charged with raising $100,000. But none of his friends doubted he would reach the goal and probably surpass it -- Reames has long been known as the "toastmaster general" because of his fund-raising abilities. "He's a community treasure," said Reames' longtime friend and former insurance associate Jay Adams. "He's also one of the most generous and compassionate people you'd ever want to meet. "Bert will pick up someone off the street and take them to the Salvation Army if they're down and out," Adams said. It is that kind of compassion and participation in youth organizations such as Healthy Start and the Constituency for Children that earned Reames the 1996 Humanitarian Award from the Halifax Medical Center Foundation. When handing out the award, foundation officials said Reames deserved it because of "his total commitment to the community." Saturday night was no exception at the Oceanside Country Club when the World War II Air Force veteran was honored once again by business associates, friends and family. Even after at least a dozen of Reames' friends came up to congratulate him, the honoree was modest and said he did not deserve the award. "I can think of a dozen or more people who should have this award," Reames said. "You don't even think about getting it because you just do what you have to do." |
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