Veterans Affairs employee given presidential honor

Lily Fetzer, originally of Mounds, Ill., director of the Veterans Affairs regional office in San Diego, was recently awarded the Presidential Rank Award by President Bush. Fetzer was one of 21 employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive the honor. The awards are presented annually to members of the federal government Senior Executive Service for long-term accomplishments. Employees are nominated by their agency heads, evaluated by boards of private citizens and approved by the president. The criteria focus on leadership and results. Fetzer was born at Southeast Missouri Hospital and raised by her parents Emily and Biffle Dodd of Mounds, Ill. She graduated high school from Meridian School District.