Anyone who has volunteered at one of the Lawrence Habitat for Humanity houses in the past few years is probably familiar with volunteer John Golden.  John first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in 2002 with the First Presbyterian Church and has been coming back ever since.

He can usually be found working the chop saw or helping teach new volunteers how to use the tools or install a window, but he says he just does whatever is needed around the work site. 

John worked for Farmland Industries for 28 years and Malone and Associates for 18 years.  While at Farmland Industries he managed the maintenance department, where he gained a lot of the skills that he uses while helping to build the Habitat houses.  Before all of that he was a machinist apprentice.

John is a life member of the Sertoma Club.  According to its website, the primary goal of Sertoma, an acronym for the phrase Service To Mankind, is to assist the more than 50 million people with hearing health issues, along with sponsoring community projects to promote freedom and democracy, assist youth, and to benefit a variety of local community needs.  John is also a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of a Symbolic Lodge.

John has two kids, a daughter who lives near Boise and a son who lives near Edwards Air Force Base in California, six grandkids, and three (soon to be four) great-grandkids.

As mentioned above, John recently received the John Gingerich Award, given annually to honor the person who epitomizes the volunteer spirit in areas outside of construction.

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