First Recipents Of Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award Announced

PRAIRIE GROVE -- It was more than appropriate that the first recipients of a new award to recognize volunteerism in Prairie Grove, the Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award, are Lyle's widow, Pat Lyle, and his daughter, Lesa Lyle Bement.

Both women are actively involved in the community, Pat Lyle with many different organizations and Bement as founder and president of Friends of Prairie Grove Pound.

The City Council created the new award a year ago in memory of Buddy Lyle, who passed away June 3, 2014. The award is to be given annually "to an individual who has volunteered their time and service to make the city a better place."

Buddy Lyle was a member of the City Council for nine years, delivered Meals on Wheels and handed out food each month for "Beans and Rice" at First Presbyterian Church. He also served as president of Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce and was named Citizen of the Year by the Chamber in 2010.

Mayor Sonny Hudson announced the recipients at the beginning of the Prairie Grove City Council meeting last week and council member Gina Lyle-Bailey, Pat and Buddy Lyle's daughter and Bement's sister, presented plaques to both recipients. Gina Lyle-Bailey was appointed to fill her father's vacant seat on the City Council in November 2014.

Hudson said a committee considered possible candidates for the award and the volunteer service given by Pat Lyle and Bement "jumped out at them." They couldn't pick between the two so the committee decided to name two recipients for the first year, Hudson said.

"These are people who deserve it and they just so happen to be family members," Hudson said. "It's been phenomenal all the things they've done."

Lyle volunteers with LIFE Ministries in Prairie Grove and Meals on Wheels, is a member of Prairie Grove Planning Commission, a member of AARP and is active in her church and other organizations. Bement has been the driving force behind Friends of Prairie Grove Pound and been instrumental in improving the animal shelter and finding homes for many dogs and cats.

"It all fell in place for the committee," Hudson said.

Pat Lyle said she was shocked to receive the honor. She had not planned to attend the meeting because she was leaving to go out of town. Gina Lyle-Bailey said she encouraged her mother to go to the meeting to see who would receive the first Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award.

"I just assumed for some reason it would be a man," Lyle said. "Bud loved Prairie Grove. He loved the people. I'm just totally blown away and honored."

Bement, wearing a ball cap, also was taken by surprise.

"I would have taken off my ball cap if I had known," Bement said after the meeting. "It's really nice to be recognized for all the work I do for the Friends of Prairie Grove Pound but it's especially meaningful because it's an award in my Dad's name."

A special plaque for the Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award will hang in City Hall with the names of recipients engraved on it each year.