Spirit of America nominee: Nancy Caldwell

Nominated by Lisa Stewart

As you can see, Nancy is very busy with her life. You can ask anyone who knows her and they will tell you that she loves her country and community. She serves her community many way. Here are some more that weren't mentioned. She still volunteers at the elementary school in Scott City. She does Meals on Wheels in Scott City. She cuts coupons for the Over Sea Coupon program (she cuts coupons for hours and sends them to the troops' wives to use). She attends both Scott City and Commerce Memorial Day Services every year. She helps out by reading and getting the Patriot Contest winner. At Commerce, she brings her husband's war memorabilia and displays it for all to see. She gives her time, love and money to so many. She is the most caring and giving person you could ever meet. If only I was a great writer, surely she would win. She loves giving and is humble about it.

In Nancy's words:

I started with a bachelor of science in education with a major in physical education and minors in biological science and social studies. The first four years of teaching I taught in high school -- in Arcadia Valley and in Woodlawn and coached girls volleyball. After being out, getting married and having a daughter, I taught one year at Scott City High School then went to elementary physical education for the next 29 years until I retired. Now I have been retired for 20 years and work for jobs that have no salary. I volunteer in the elementary school library regularly, as I got a library certification after I got my master's degree in education. I thought maybe I would be able to switch to a less active position when my knees started going bad, but stayed with P.E. until retirement.

In the late '60s or early '70s (I wish I had kept an accurate account of when) I started doing something that has given me more satisfaction than anything else. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital contacted me to coordinate a bike-a-thon fundraiser for them. I continued to do that for the next 30 or more years. In 2001 I switched to a math-a-thon with the kids at school. It raised more than the bike-a-thons did and at this point I have overseen the collection of more than $100,000 for them. I appreciate all the kids who work so hard and my corporate sponsors (businesses in town) and people who drop money in the cans I place in local places during our event. It's the most worthy cause anyone could work for. For the last five years I've worked the St. Jude's radio-o-thon at KZIM and K-103. It was an honor to attend the first three volunteer appreciation days they had in Memphis.

In the early '70s I was active in the Scott City Woman's Club (then known as Junior Wives Club), having been secretary, vice president and president. At that time, I organized the Red Cross Learn to Swim program at the new pool and saw to it a swim team was started that I am pleased to say continues to this day. The same year the swim lessons started I helped to organize the first girls softball youth teams. Until that time it had only been boys teams. A lot of good volunteers from parents helped and to this day continue with the program. It was important to me to see these two programs in our community. I had taught with the Cape Girardeau lessons and coached in the first Cape Girardeau swim team many years ago.

My membership in Broadway United Methodist Church started when I was young. I am not sure exactly when, but remember growing up there. I've taught Sunday school classes many years, directed vacation Bible school at various times over the yeas and held other offices or positions.

After retiring form teaching, I served 12 years on the Scott City School Board and held the position of secretary.

I joined the VFW Auxiliary 6407 in 1975 and from that year on have been chairman of youth activities, which included the "Voice of Democracy" speech contest for high school and the "Patriot's Pen" essay contest for middle and junior high schools (a later addition to the patriotic contests) and the patriotic art contest for the high school.

I was honored twice as Woman of the Year, once in 1977 by the Junior Wives Club and again in 2004, then called the Women's Club. Another meaningful honor was a plaque in the hall of St. Jude with my name after collecting over a certain amount in the bike-a-thons.

During the school year of 1977 to 1978, I served as president of the Southeast Missouri District Physical Education Association after previous years as vice president and secretary. I also had an article published in the "School & Community" Missouri State Teachers Association Magazine around that time about how I adapted familiar games for the holidays.

I served on the consolidation committee when Scott City and Illmo joined to form Scott City in 1980. Then a few years later I got to be part of the first historic preservation committee of Scott City, which went on to accomplish several goals of preserving historical facts for our town. I also had a Girl Scout troop one year and for a couple of years I conducted scout leader training sessions for the district troop leaders on games, dances and activities for the girls.