Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Council Awards Buddy Lyle Citizenship Honor To Glovers
PRAIRIE GROVE — Jim and Sharon Glover volunteer countless hours to help lost and abandoned animals in Prairie Grove and Prairie Grove City Council honored them for their unselfish acts during last week’s Council meeting.
The Glovers received the 2017 Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award, given annually to recognize someone who has volunteered time and service to make the city a better place.
The City Council created the Citizenship Award in memory of Buddy Lyle, who passed away in June 2014. Lyle was active in the community as a member of Prairie Grove City Council and member of Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce. He delivered Meals on Wheels and handed out food each month for “Beans and Rice” at First Presbyterian Church.
Lyle’s daughter, Lesa Lyle Bement, asked the Glovers to attend the Council meeting telling them the City Council was going to discuss an item related to animals in Prairie Grove. Bement is president of Friends of Prairie Grove Pound and both Jim and Sharon serve on the Friends’ board of directors.
Bement presented the award to the couple but first had to confess: “You were brought here under false pretenses,” she told them. “I lied.”
The plaque was engraved with the following:
“Whereas Jim and Sharon Glover have had a distinguished career of volunteerism and whereas Jim and Sharon Glover have served the city of Prairie Grove and the citizens of Prairie Grove in a selfless and tireless manner, and whereas Jim and Sharon Glover consistently demonstrated their willingness to serve
and whereas Jim and Sharon have served as role models for future volunteers in the community, and whereas the Prairie Grove City Council wishes to acknowledge the dedicated couple for their services to the community of Prairie Grove; therefore, I, Sonny Hudson, the mayor of the great town of Prairie Grove, proclaim Jim and Sharon Glover as 2017 recipients of the Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award.”
Bement gave her own personal comments about the Glovers, adding, “I just wanted to say I am so proud and it’s my honor that you guys are getting this very deserved award.”
Friends of Prairie Grove Pound has to raise about $30,000 each year to pay for vet bills and this money could not be raised without the Glovers’ efforts, Bement said.
“I thank them. They’ve taken the reins on doing everything I’ve started and they make sure we have the money we need to take care of the animals in this town. They never stop. They are forces to be reckoned with.”
The Glovers moved to Prairie Grove in 2000 and and opened a new business, Southern Chic antique store. They still own the building and now it houses Fat Rolls bakery. They originally had planned to live in Hog Eye but sold that land and purchased an historic home in Prairie Grove.
The couple became involved with Friends of Prairie Grove Pound about four years ago but have always cared for animals.
Jim served in the military all over the world for 31 years and when the couple was living in Nepal, they started a concerned citizens group because of the stray animals in the city.
They estimate they volunteer three-four hours daily, seven days a week for the Friends’ group. This includes fundraising efforts, fostering animals, or looking for foster homes and adoption homes for dogs and cats.