Salvation Army honors area man as top volunteer
Published: November 16, 2005
Larry Boyd Sr. has put in a lifetime of giving, but this year he finally received.
The 64-year-old Rostraver Township resident, who has been involved with the Salvation Army’s Monessen citadel for more than 50 years, recently earned the distinction of 2005 Western Pennsylvania Salvationist of the Year.
The award recognizes one volunteer from a field of 43 Salvation Army corps from the western half of the state.
Boyd, who became a volunteer as a teenager, said he has grown with the Mon Valley organization and benefited with many meaningful friendships he has made with volunteers and Salvation Army leaders.
“We have wonderful corps officers. They are top of the line people,” he said of Monessen Salvation Army Capts. Michael and Amanda Jung.
The Jungs named a classroom in their Monessen building after Boyd and his wife, Grace, who is also a long-time volunteer.
The Boyds have taught Sunday school for the Salvation Army in Monessen for many years.
Sitting in his classroom, Boyd held the award plaque he received with pride.
The humble humanitarian said he never expected to earn such a heralded honor.
“I didn’t even know they were going to honor me. They said, ‘This nominee is a 50-year Salvationist.’ I’m thinking to myself, ‘Man, this guy is old,’” Boyd said of the announcement at the award ceremony. “I cannot believe they honored me with it because there are other people who have volunteered more.”
Boyd’s first became involved with the Salvation Army at the age of 8.
He was introduced to the organization through his church.
“I was going to First Christian Church. (A woman) said, ‘Would you be interested in going to the church camp for the summer?’ I had never went away before because we were all poor. I started going to Sunday school and that’s how it started,” Boyd said.
The organization leaders and volunteers became Boyd’s extended family.
“They were like my mother and dad,” he said. “They just directed you the right way. It was like a teenage refuge.”
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