Posted by Jessica Lyle on Jul 16, 2018

Longtime businessman and university professor, Jack Warner, received Edmond Rotary Club’s “Rotarian of the Year” during the club's weekly meeting on July 11th. Selected by 15 of his peer members, Warner received the club’s highest recognition for representing Service Above Self. The award is officially the “George Mikesell Service Above Self Annual Award” in honor of Mikesell, a member of Rotary for 54 years with perfect attendance of 48 of those until his health failed. At the age of 82, Mikesell organized the then-Edmond Central Rotary Club, 31 years ago and personally recruited two dozen members, all accomplished while legally blind.

Warner has served in many leadership capacities in Rotary, including former president, and has had perfect attendance for a least a dozen years and is a two-time Paul Harris Fellow for his financial support of the organization. He is chair of Rotary’s scholarship committee, on which he has served many years to select a handful of Edmond high school students for the annual $2000 scholarship. Also, he has been a “Rotary Reader” at Ida Freeman Elementary for many years, reading to one, at times, two classes every week.
 
Jessica Lyle was elected president of the club during the same meeting. Lyle has served in leadership positions since joining the club three years ago. Employed by the City of Edmond for eight years, Lyle is the Community Relations Coordinator for Edmond Electric. A graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma and the Edmond Chamber’s Leadership Edmond program, she is heavily involved with the chamber, including Edmond Young Professionals and the Ambassador Council.
 
At the annual awards ceremony, several members were inducted to the Board of Directors. Other than Lyle, they are Past President - James Kerr, President Elect - Chris Koehler, Secretary - Cindy Dimit, Treasurer- Rusty Hale, Club Service - Janet Yowell, Community Service - Dawn Mamer, Vocational Service - Andy Melvin, Membership - Sandy Chappell, International Service - Sherry Klein, Sergeant-at-Arms - James Boss, and Public Relations - Beth Case.