​2024 West Liberty Labor Day Festival
Grand Marshal Joe R. Buck, Sr.

Joe was honored, humbled and very grateful when he was informed of this honor. Joe is a 92 year lifelong resident of the West Liberty community. He says he started out with "next to nothing" and built a pretty amazing life with hard work, a little bit of good luck, a great wife and his faith in God. He has been able to watch his family grow from seven children to over one hundred in our lineage. Through the years he has farmed, worked in many positions in the State Government, campaigned for many candidates (local, state and nationally), served as a township trustee, and helped with operation of Valley fencing. His favorite part about West Liberty is the fact that is in a close knit group of people. If there is an illness or tragedy, everyone comes together to support one another. His favorite part of the Labor Day weekend is the parade and the tractor show, but he looks forward most to seeing all the people that he hasn't seen in a while. His favorite memories of the festival are the wheat thrashing, the tractor pull, eating apple dumplings and beef-n-noodles, and the tug-of-war.
Joe has been a member of the Madriver Lodge #161 for 45 years, contributed to the West Liberty-Salem FHA and FFA from 1965 to current and is an honorary lifetime member. His advice to the younger generation would be to work hard, respect your elders and keep their stories for the next generation.

Congratulations Joe and thank you for all your contributions to the West Liberty community. 

2024 West Liberty Lions Club Lion of the Year
​Bob Harrison

The Lion of the Year is Lion Bob Harrison. Bob has been a member of the West Liberty Lions club for 29 years. He was very honored, appreciative, and surprised when he learned of this honor. Growing up on a farm on Ricketts Road, with his parents and 2 sisters, he graduated from West Liberty High School in 1957. After graduation he farmed for several years with his Father milking around 28 Holstein cows, and then began commuting to Urbana College. In 1970 he was hired as the Urbana College maintenance supervisor which is where he would meet his wife Dorothy through their mutual love of motorcycles. They married in 1976, and he graduated in 1978 with a BS in Comprehensive Science. He left Urbana College to become a farm equipment salesman for 3 years, and then purchased and operated an appliance store and operated it for 10 years. At that time the Village of West Liberty had a job opening in the Water Department, and in 1991 he was hired as an operator for the Village. He then worked to obtain his Water & Wastewater licenses to operate both the water and the wastewater systems. In 1996 he became the Village Water Superintendent and held that position until his retirement in 2011. Bob never left the comfort living of West Liberty, and has enjoyed his 85 years of residing in the Village and now is enjoying retirement living on Green Hills Drive in West Liberty. His favorite thing about living in West Liberty is that the majority of the residents are friendly, and they work together to solve local problems and help others out. His most memorable part of the Labor Day weekend is the comradery that takes place between fellow lions from preparation through final tear down, but his passion lies with the golf cart raffle drawing. He has been involved in many organizations throughout his lifetime; served as a member of the Logan County Sr. Fair Board for 10 years, participated in the 1967 sesquicentennial and also the 2017 West Liberty Bicentennial committees. The latter led him to be involved in with the Troop Banner program and for many years helped place and hang them throughout the village recognizing local veterans. He is an active member of the West Liberty Historical Society and has served in a very active role in the restoration process of the Townhall and Opera house. He was a member of the Urbana University Board of Trustees from 1987-2014 and is still very active in our Lions Club. Bob has played a very vital role in obtaining funding to build our future and first ever ADA restroom in the park along with many other service oriented activities that he contributes to.
​
His advice to the younger generation would be to get involved in helping others and become a Lion- because just like our motto says- "WE SERVE", and that is his favorite part of being a Lion.

Please congratulate, and thank Bob for his many years of service to the West Liberty community.