by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
Mayor John Peyton found himself surrounded by a “MOB” Tuesday.
The Mayor’s Older Buddies, or MOB, is a 10-year-old collaboration between the mayor’s office and the Jacksonville-Duval County Council on Elder Affairs and features the Mayor’s 2006 Senior Citizens Awards. Three senior citizens were nominated for their service to the community and recognized at the luncheon by Peyton. Dean DeWall was awarded the Male Senior Citizen of the Year; Lorraine Mikulak received the Female Senior Citizen of the Year; and Elwood Thalheimer was recognized for the James L. Fortuna Senior Lifetime Achievement, the highest recognition through COEA.
Thalheimer, a 95-year-old man who has volunteered since he was 65, continues to stay involved at his former job, Prudential, since he retired. He is also on the advisory council for the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, where he volunteers more than 1,000 hours every year through various activities such as planting trees and helping blood drives. Thalheimer said he especially wanted to thank his wife for pushing him to get involved in the community.
“She feels she’s better off when I’m out of the house,” he said. “It’s about people encouraging you.”
Thalheimer left the stage with a few words of wisdom to his fellow senior citizens about how to receive the award.
“Start when you’re 65 and when you’re 95, you’ll get it,” he said.