Spirit of America nominee: Doug Austin

Nominated by Ruth Dockins and Cape Girardeau S.A.L.T. Council

The Spirit of America award is for volunteers who make a difference, and Doug Austin's actions will speak much louder than words.

Doug's life is a reflection of his two favorite terms: visible and measurable.

He has been these things during his church, community and civic service.

Service to the church

• Southern Baptist Convention; Ethics and Religious Life Commission
• Executive board member, Baptist Convention; chair, Missouri Christian Life Commission; Credential Committee; Nominating Committee
• Cape's Baptist Association Executive Board -- director, Christian Life and stewardship director, Disaster Relief Feeding Unit
• Bethany Baptist: trustee, deacon, publicity director, drama team, Baptist men's director
• Shining Light Baptist Outreach Center, executive board

Service to community

• Seniors And Lawmen Together
• Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
• Service Corps of Retired Executives
• Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Council, 2010 Census Committee, Vision 2020, Chamber of Commerce, Citizen's Police Academy, Police Experience, Citizen's Fire Academy, I Love Cape, Keep Cape Beautiful, Quality of Life in Cape and Paddle Wheel tourist ambassador
• Alma Schrader Elementary volunteer tutor
• Missouri State Highway Patrol Citizen's Police Academy
• SEMO Area Agency on Aging executive board
• Silver Haired Legislature Representative; House Majority Floor Leader and State Board of Directors
• Recipient of Lt. Governor of Missouri's Senior Service Award 2013
• Republican Central Committee, Cape Girardeau County
• Cape Pachyderms
• Toastmasters International
• Friends of Cape Library
• Missouri Baptist Bikers Fellowship
• Christian Motorcyclist Association
• Lifetime American Motorcyclists Association
• Lifetime Indiana Sagamores of Wabash
• Lifetime of Commonwealth of Kentucky -- Kentucky Colonel