IMLAY CITY — A local couple have been honored for their dedication to community service.
Terry Gebhardt along with his wife, Lori, received the 2006 Edgar A. Guest award presented by the Attica-Imlay City Masonic Lodge Masons at the Imlay City Eagles hall last Satur-day.

The award is given to any non-member of the Masonic Lodge who has done some kind of community service and is recognized for their generosity.

Terry, who is president of the Lions Club and also the Lions district secretary and treasurer, has been doing community service for years.

After having five surgeries in two years for kidney and pancreas failure due to diabetes, Gebhardt couldn’t go back to his 60- to 70-hour-a-week job. So he started to keep himself busy by coaching sports teams. The assistant coach that coached with him suggested he join the Lions Club.

This May will mark 10 years since Gebhardt’s last surgery and he is happy to say that he is healthy and still happy to give back.

“God wasn’t ready for me just yet,” Gebhardt said. “Doing the service is a good chance for me to give back.”

He’s not the only one receiving the award. Lori Gebhardt, Terry’s wife, also will be receiving this award with her husband because of all of the community service she has done in the area.

Lori has been the Lapeer County Deputy Register of Deeds since November 1980, and has been chief deputy registrar since 1985. She also is chairperson for Project Kidsight, which is a program that gives children eye exams and helps collect used eyeglasses to be distributed to those that can’t afford them.

Like Lori, Terry also is a part of the Michigan Eye Bank, which helps restore eyes for those that need it, and also helps promote organ and eye tissue donations for surgeries.

Terry agrees that his wife deserves this award, too, because she does just as much as he does when it comes to giving back to the community.

“We basically pay and collect dues to be given away,” Gebhardt said. “It’s very rewarding.” — Aparna Echempati

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