Dependent on the Kindness of Our Residents

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth,” said our fellow Kentuckian, Muhammad Ali.

It is through said volunteering that our city is able to maintain the high standards of living we enjoy today. Hopkinsville’s greatest asset is its residents, especially, its volunteers.

The importance of volunteering isn’t just emotional, it is critical to the health of the community and to the individuals volunteering. It is scientific. In an April Psychology Today article, Dr. Soren Kaplan wrote, “Being in service to others isn’t a feel-good extra—it’s the foundation of a healthy, functioning culture and society.”

Let’s face it – government has limits – especially, municipal government. Even with its best efforts, city government cannot meet every need on its own. Enter our greatest asset: Our residents who volunteer.  In this article, I wanted to thank all residents, non-profits, churches, and businesses that give so much to the city. It’s risky to name just a few, because I’m sure to leave out many deserving folks, but I’ll blame that on the newspaper editor who limits me to 400 words!

Just to name a few:

• The late Kristina Adkins Scott was a longtime volunteer at the Trail of Tears Heritage Center in Hopkinsville, where she served faithfully on the Trail of Tears Commission. Following in her mother’s footsteps, the original tour guide at the park for more than 20 years, Kristina continued the storytelling tradition that preserved and shared the area’s rich Native American history. Ms. Scott died October 3, 2025;

  
  

• Charles and Diane Turner have been dedicated volunteers at Jeffers Bend since the early 1990s. Charles first became involved while working with the USDA as the Pennyrile RC&D Coordinator. Even after his retirement in 2011, his commitment to Jeffers Bend continued alongside his wife, Diane. Together, they contribute more than 40 hours each week (Diane is paid for approximately 20 hours of clerical support, but that amount only covers a fraction of the time she donates.) The Turners are this year’s winner of the Mayor’s Community Award for Volunteerism;

  
  

• Western Hills Golf Course is led by a four-member executive board consisting of Kirk Dulin, Rob Meacham, Carol Lewis, and Patsy Brandon. Together, they have dedicated more than 36 years of volunteer service to the course. Western Hills is also proud to still have two charter members, Larry Pyle and Jim King. Jim served on the executive board from 1985 until recently, providing decades of leadership and commitment. Collectively, board members volunteer around 20 hours each month serving on the board and preparing reports that help keep the course running smoothly. The golf course is jointly owned by the city and the county.

I am well aware each reader of this article could send, at least, a dozen names of volunteers who have given a significant part of their life to volunteering in this community. I also know I am not mentioning all of the non-profits, churches, and businesses that give so much to maintain the dignity of the community and our high standards of living.

But, that’s my point. We are a city dependent on the kindness of our residents… and they never disappoint.

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