Local ham radio operator receives President’s award

Chris Berndt, emergency management director, left, and Ron Potter , center, stand up with Gary Jones to acknowledge his service to the county’s emergency communications system. BDN photo by Donna Clevenger

By Donna Clevenger
BDN Staff Writer
dclevenger@bransondailynews.com

FORSYTH — When a volunteer serves for 100 hours or more, and takes time out of his busy life to make a difference for the community and the nation, an award is definitely in order.

Taney County Emergency Management director Chris Berndt announced that one of their volunteers, Gary Jones, had received the gold level of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

The award was presented to Jones by Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel last week. Both Pennel and Berndt applauded Jones’ efforts in supporting emergency prepardness in Taney County.

“Gary is a ham radio operator, and we rely quite heavily on ham radio operators. Because of new technology — nobody hardly ever uses them anymore; however when something happens like Greensburg, Kans. happens, everything got completely wiped out and that was the only communication for quite some time,” Berndt said.

Ron Potter, a fellow-ham radio operator, nominated Jones for the award, which is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation and is chaired by Super Bowl champion Darrel Green along with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn.

Jones realized the need for emergency communications when normal communications such as cell phones fail during a time of crisis.

He has continued to spend a substantial amount of time building and maintaining emergency communications systems, which will permit the county to communicate with the outside world should normal communications fail.

The ham radio system of passing messages is tested across the country on a daily basis to ensure it will work if ever needed.

“When someone gives 780 hours as a volunteer like Gary did, that’s like half an employee added to the Taney County Emergency Management team. When he gives that much of himself, it was the right thing to do,” Potter said about his nomination of Jones for the award. “We have so many people in the county who volunteer their time, we wanted to recognize that.”

Click Here for a printer-friendly version of this story.