Phil Coats 2013 Rotary Vocational Excellence Award Winner

Effingham Printing Company Owner/Operator Phil Coats has received the Effingham Noon Rotary Club's 2013 Vocational Excellence Award.  The award was presented at the club's meeting October 16.

Vocational Excellence Award Selection Committee Member Tod Lancaster said Coats was chosen for his service to Rotary, his success in business, and his work on behalf of the community in a variety of areas.

Coats is an active member of Noon Rotary including his work as editor of the club's weekly bulletin, his membership on the Songleading Committee and his co-chairmanship of the World Service Committee.  His interest in world service is evidenced by the many trips he's taken to assist Rotary work in Guatemala.

Coats' business acumen is seen in his years of work establishing and overseeing the Church Music Division at Samuel Music Company and then his acquisition of the former B&W Printing that he renamed Effingham Printing Company.  He also acquired Typertising and incorporated the business into his operation.  Effingham Printing recently relocated a short distance south of their original location into new headquarters in the Zehner Building.

Service in the community is a big part of Coats' makeup.  He's a member of the Effingham Ministerial Association and serves as recording secretary for the group, he's a director of and volunteer for the Cross Foundation, he serves in a variety of capacities for First Baptist Church of Effingham, and is a member of the Effingham County Salvation Army Board.

Faith is an important part of Coats' life.  In addition to his work for First Baptist and the Cross Foundation and Ministerial Association, he has served as a supply preacher and music director for several churches.

Coats said his father Dallas Coats and mentor in business Lowell Samuel were two large influences on his life.  He said of his father, "He was the smartest man I ever knew.  I loved talking with him, I should have done it more, I still miss him."

Coats and his wife Melissa have three sons and six grandchildren.

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Haley Fatheree was the Rotary weekly student guest.  She's the daughter of Joseph and Darlene Fatheree and is a senior at Effingham High School.

(FROM LEFT, ROTARY VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD COMMITTEE MEMBER TOD LANCASTER, ROTARY WEEKLY STUDENT GUEST HALEY FATHEREE, AND 2013 NOON ROTARY VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER PHIL COATS)