Christ receives 2017 Allbaugh Award

Each year, one Community member is honored at the Annual Chamber Banquet for the work they do to make Eagle Grove a better place to live. As Sue White began giving some hints Monday evening as to who this year’s recipient might be - telling the crowd that this individual was named Mr. FBLA, graduated from EGHS in 1975, and then attended AIB to get a Business Management degree, Jim Christ’s face began to show a look of shock. Then his family walked in and he couldn’t have been more humbled... and appreciative.

“This truly is the biggest honor of my life,” he told the crowd with a crackle in his voice and eyes filling with tears.

The variety of volunteer projects Christ has been involved in over the years is proof of his desire to make Eagle Grove beautiful, viable, and forward-thinking.

After high school graduation and AIB, Christ spent some time in real estate and fixing/selling houses. In 1980, he married Gayle, and in 1984 the couple returned home to Eagle Grove to take over the family business, Christ Furniture. That’s when he made the decision to get involved in the town he grew up in. He served on various boards, including a charter member of the Eagle Grove Jaycees in 1981, serving on the Eagle Grove Chamber, the Retail Committee where he chaired the Christmas and Crazy Days committees, and has been a long-time Rotary member where he has served terms as President. He’s been involved with the Boy Scouts, is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church where he serves as an usher, on the Community Development Corporation Board/Vice President, and is a past Our Foundation for the Future President, and has been the Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient.

Read the full story on the February 1 edition.