This year’s Barney Douglas Citizen of the Year is Douglas Hawkins of Noble

The son of Dexter and Nelita Hawkins, Doug Hawkins has lived his entire life in Ozark County - “with the exception of one overnight stay in West Plains on the day I was born,” he joked in his typical lighthearted way. He grew up along Z Highway and still lives within a mile of his childhood home. A proud Gainesville Bulldog, Doug graduated with the class of 1989.

After high school, he spent two decades working on the family cattle farm before taking a job at the Copeland Scroll Factory in Ava. Even while working there, Doug was volunteering with Three Rivers Hospice. When his boss told him about an upcoming promotion at Copeland, Doug realized the work wasn’t where his heart was. “That was when I knew I wanted to do something that mattered, something that helped people,” he said. He interviewed for a position that technically wasn’t even open yet at Three Rivers Hospice, and two weeks later, he was in his new role and had found his new calling.

Doug spent two years working with patients and families at the end of life, an experience that is both humbling and deeply rewarding.

In 2015, his lifelong friend Keith Grisham called with surprising news: Keith’s father, longtime Shelter Insurance agent Larry Grisham, was retiring. Doug assumed Keith would be stepping into the role himself, but instead Keith encouraged Doug to apply. He did, and he’s been the familiar, welcoming face of the Gainesville Shelter office ever since.

Even while working full-time, Doug has remained committed to volunteering. He continues to serve as a hospice volunteer now and has become a fixture in countless community efforts. His longtime girlfriend, Heather Luna, who works alongside him at the Shelter office, says Doug’s servant’s heart shines through in everything he does.

“It just comes easy to him,” Heather said. “People come in and tell us about problems that don’t have anything to do with things here, but he’ll be the first to jump in and figure out a way to help. He doesn’t think about it, he just does it.”

Doug currently serves as a board member for the Ozark County Ambulance, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Ozark County Chamber of Commerce. He’s president of the board of the Ozark County office of Missouri Extension and a Gainesville Lions Club member. He’s also served on the boards of the Senior Citizens Center, Wasola Fire Department, Ozark County Wellness Committee and the Ozark County Emergency Response Team. 

He helps organize several favorite Hootin an Hollarin events, including the Saturday morning 5K, the free kids’ corner, pie-baking contest and the famed terrapin races. Through the Chamber, he and Heather spearheaded efforts to bring Gainesville its first professional fireworks show in recent memory and continue to coordinate the annual trunk-or-treat event that draws hundreds of children each Halloween. In addition, Doug and his Shelter office frequently sponsor local causes, everything from the food pantry and school programs to sports teams, rodeos and community efforts.

Still, Doug is quick to point out that nothing he’s done has been alone.

“I truly love this community. Some of my friends today are the same ones I’ve known since kindergarten, and that’s not something you find everywhere. There’s just something different about Ozark County. People look out for one another, they step in when someone’s in need and they give without expecting anything in return. Anything I’ve ever been a part of has only been possible because of the people working with me. I’ve never done anything alone, and I wouldn’t want to. This place and the people who make it what it is, have blessed me more than I could ever give back.”

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Editor's note: Douglas Hawkins will be recognized on the Hootin an Hollarin Main stage while the judges are tallying their votes during the 7:30 p.m. queen pageant Thursday, Sept. 18.  The Gainesville Lions Club’s Citizen of the Year Award is named for the late Barney Douglas in honor of his many years of service to the community in an endless variety of volunteer activities including helping with Hootin an Hollarin setup and cleanup. The Gainesville Lions Club chooses the citizen of the year each year, recognizing an outstanding community member.