Jim Fair
Bill Tyler was honored as the Greer Lions Club Citizen of the Year at the club’s annual awards dinner. Tyler is operator at Greer Chick-fil-A.
Jim Fair
Ken Holliday is the Greer Lions Club Citizen of the Year. He is the club's treasurer and is Human Resource Manager at Greer Commission of Public Works.
Tyler is operator of Chick-fil-A in Greer and Holliday is the Human Resource Manager of Greer Commission of Public Works. Holliday is the treasurer of the Lions Club. Both said they were unaware of being recipients of the award.
His family coaxed Tyler into going the dinner. “They told me they were taking me to dinner and to not ask any questions,” Tyler said. “I had organized the annual retreat for Chick-fil-A franchisees and was scheduled to leave that morning at 8:30,” Tyler said. “When my dad told me, about the third time, I need to make other arrangements, I knew something was going on but I didn’t know what.”
The Lions Club recognized Tyler for his business operated on Christian principles and high business standards. He has donated food and services in the Greater Greer area including Blue Ridge and North Greenville. Tyler provides the Lions Club Chick-fil-A sandwiches at a reduced cost to enjoy a profit they share with Greer High School.
Students who excel academically receive gift coupons for food and children attending Vacation Bible Schools receive gifts from the restaurant. Tyler said he has given about 100 scholarships of $1,000 each to employees who have qualified for the company incentive through his years as operator.
Tyler reached the pinnacle of success with Chick-fil-A in 2006 and 2007 when he was awarded a vehicle of his choice as the company’s “Symbol of Success”. Tyler described it as the Academy Awards recognition of the company.
The Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce awarded Tyler the “Margaret Burch Business Educator of the Year” in the past for his contributions to education in area schools.
“Humbled. That’s the only word I can come up with that expresses how I feel to receive this award,” Tyler said. “People know you by the example you set living your life. I’m trying to carry out my life’s mission.”
Tyler said he resisted asking his family what the occasion was for the mandated dinner. His biggest surprise was 20 minutes after the dinner when his son, Bo, LPGA Manager of Rules, called from a tournament Hawaii to congratulate him.
Holliday said he was “shocked” to hear he received the service club’s annual top honor. “The Lions Club has meant a lot to me,” Holliday said. “The members have opened a lot of doors for me in the community. This Club is about a lot of guys not one.”
Holliday is the Human Resources Manager for the Greer Commission of Public Works. He accepted the role of Lions Club treasurer last year to help bring some stability on its financial record keeping.
“There’s a lot more to it (treasurer) than people think but if you keep up with it it’s not too bad,” Holliday said.
Holliday has been a club member for seven years, serving as president two years ago. “I learned a lot about the club as president,” he said.