The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/518694
SPRING 2015 25 Emerald Coast Chapter Compatriot Glenn Van Vliet presented the Good Citizenship Medal to Eagle Scout Austin W. Carrico on Dec. 20, 2014, at his Court of Honor. Austin, a member of Troop 773 in Crestview, has so far earned 76 merit badges and has been extremely active in the community. His guest speaker was Crestview Mayor David Cadle, who has known Austin through his civic involvement. Palm Beach Chapter President General Lindsey Brock presented the SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal to Compatriot Alexander Wallace Dreyfoos Jr. at the FLSSAR's winter Board of Management Meeting on Jan. 30 in Orlando. PG Brock also presented Compatriot Dreyfoos the SAR Military Service Medal and Certificate of Patriotism, #1, for his outstanding service as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Dreyfoos is a self-made man who came from humble beginnings. He was gifted with a scientific mind and borrowed money to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he obtained a scientific degree. While at MIT, Dreyfoos joined the university's ROTC and upon graduation, received an officer's commission in the U.S. Air Force. He served four years, including an assignment as officer in charge of the photo-reconnaissance laboratory in Germany. Upon his discharge, he attended Harvard University on the G.I. Bill and received a master's degree in business. Five years after graduating from Harvard, he founded the Photo Electronics Corporation, a company specializing in photography and video production photography. During his ownership of PEC, Dreyfoos was granted numerous U.S. and foreign patents relating to photography. In 1970, he received an Academy Award for his invention of the Video Color Negative Analyzer. Some of his photographic inventions are on permanent display in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. As a philanthropist, he has given millions back to society. Among his most notable philanthropic achievements is a $15 million donation to MIT, resulting in the naming of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. Building. He also has donated money to the Palm Beach County Board of Education to construct and open the nation's first performing arts high school, and the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. In 2004, Dreyfoos made sizeable donations to the state of Florida, paving the way for the relocation of the Scripps Research Institute from California to Palm Beach County, Fla. Through his financial assistance, the prestigious Max Planck Institute for neurological research also opened in Palm Beach County. Dreyfoos was named "A man of Vision in the Community and Culture," and in 2013, he received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He sits on the board of directors of several national corporations and charitable organizations. At 83, Dreyfoos shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to travel the globe, photographing the many underwater wonders of the world through his love of scuba diving. GEORGIA SOCIETY Robert Forsyth Chapter The Robert Forsyth Chapter awarded Joseph William "Bill" Norman the Bronze Good Citizenship Medal at Norman's Landing Restaurant on Jan. 12. Norman was one of the original founders of Longhorn Steakhouse and left the partnership 19 years ago to open Norman's Landing Restaurant in Cumming, Ga. Since then, he has made more than $1.5 million in charitable contributions from various fundraising efforts, including golf tournaments and spaghetti dinners. The restaurant has a ping-pong room where guests can play, and the cost of the game is added to the charity jar, proceeds from which go to a different organization each month. Norman has upped the donations by holding tournaments, with all proceeds going to local charities. ILLINOIS SOCIETY George Rogers Clark Chapter Revolutionary War battle flags lined both sides of the driveway of the Nix/Judy Pioneer Cemetery in Glen Carbon, Ill., and waved in the breeze on Sept. 21, 2014, as the Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter dedicated a large, cast- aluminum plaque at the cemetery entrance. The two-sided plaque has a biography of six Revolution- ary War patriots and recognizes their part in establishing our country's freedom. They are William Biggs, John Nix, Isham and Richard Randle, Henry Thornhill and Josias Wright. ILSSAR President Thomas Ashby helped unveil the plaque. He said the marker program "is being done so that Glen Carbon and other communities with Revolutionary War Patriots interred near them might know of the sacrifices and service of these heroes. We take pride that these founding fathers of our country brought their families to Glen Carbon to help perpetuate the American ideal. "We dedicate this monument to those brave heroes, recognizing their marvelous contributions to creating the United States of America as a gift to the citizens of Glen Carbon, who are honored by these Patriots' eternal presence," he said. Father Nicholas Finley, himself a veteran, praised the SAR for all it does in remembering those who served. Members of the chapter provided the color guard and six of them read biographies of the Patriots. Granite City resident Don Bradford sang "God Bless America." GRC Chapter President Jim DeGroff thanked Steve Ellsworth State Farm Insurance, Cassens Auto Sales, the Edwardsville Rotary and Boilermakers Union Local 482 for their generous donations. Additional funding for the plaque was provided by the NSSAR and ILSSAR. The Village of Glen Carbon helped clear the site for the marker. Eagle Scout Austin W. Carrico with Compatriot Glenn Van Vliet. The Robert Forsyth Chapter was proud to present Bill Norman its Bronze Good Citizenship Medal. Presenting the medal were Thomas R. Davis, president; Edward P. Rigel, Jr., vice president; and Allen Greenly, secretary.