The Salem Elks Lodge has presented their Distinguished Citizen Award to Annie Lou Eller. The lodge also presented several other awards and announced they had once again taken First Place in Illinois for the All American Lodge competition for their size category during the annual Membership Appreciation Dinner on Saturday.
Eller who had been brought to the Elk’s by her son for dinner said she was left speechless when her name was announced as the winner. The Elk’s Exalted Ruler Mike Hooe called Eller Salem’s #1 Youth Sports Fan.
“She has spent untold hours over the last 70 years following the Bobcats and the Wildcats throughout southern Illinois. Following the loss of her husband, she organized and ran the Bob Eller Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament for 41 years. Raising and distributing over $55,000 in scholarships to kids in the Salem community.”
Eller said she completed the fund raising for the good of the kids.
“Seen every ball game for 70 years in the high school and I’m very proud of that. And I just love Salem and Salem athletics. I continue to do so.”
Eller says she was virtually born with a basketball in her hands and has always been involved in sports. Her three sons were also active in all types of sports growing up. Eller has also served on the Salem Community High School Board, the SCHS Academic Foundation, and the SCHS Sports Hall of Fame. She called the award a very nice honor from a good organization.
The Elk’s Honored Marilyn Shook as Elk of the Year for going out of the way to make sure the lodge is successful and converting it to a new accounting method.
George and Pat Natier were named the Elk Family of the Year, Will Bainbridge as Volunteer of the Year, Martha Gruenkemeyer as Salem Elk’s Lady of the Year, Becky Shuler as Elks Officer of the Year, and Jim Davidson and Elizabeth Shuler as Outstanding Service Award winners. All of the awards were based on volunteerism at the lodge.
Hooe says the Salem Elk’s Lodge was able to repeat as 1st in State for their division in the All American Lodge competition by scoring well in 40 different categories and being very active in community projects. He notes it is not an easy award to win with more than 50 lodges across the state in competition.
Becky Shuler is honored as Officer of the Year by outgoing Exalted Rural Bob Lafenhagen.
