'Good turns inspire good turns . . .'

Jason Shepherd

May 1, 2007

He was a native of Boomer in Fayette County, just down the Kanawha River from Gauley Bridge.

When there was heavy snow, his father put chains on a truck and hauled the neighborhood children to school.

His parents wanted to make life better, to make a difference in the world in which they lived.

And Jason Shepherd has nurtured that civic heritage. "Good deeds are contagious," he told Putnam Rotarians today.

Shepherd, the Branch Manager of United Bank of Teays Valley wants to do his part to improve the quality of life for himself and his community.

When he joined a cleanup of North Poplar Fork with a Lions Club group, passersby stopped to express gratitude and even joined in on the project.

Rotarians rang the bell for the Salvation Army kettle at Teays Valley Krogers include (left to right) David Powell, Jason Shepherd, James McKee, and Tom Midkiff.

When he rang a kettle bell for the Salvation Army, the payoff was not so much with the collection, but the fellowship and Christmas charity which the project generated.

"Life in Rotary has been an inspiration," he says, "and good turns inspire good turns."

And Shepherd has modeled his philosophy in community service. Before he became a Rotarian, he was on hand consistently for a variety of projects undertaken by the Putnam club.

"Not only do you do good for our community, but you encourage others to pitch in also.

"Get involved," said Shepherd. "Find your purpse and let it develop as part of a civic team.

"Make a difference."