Jay Hendrickson's philosophy has always been to give back what he has been given. At 87, the Hill City resident's list of volunteer activities and community involvement is lengthy.

His dedication to serving others has earned him the Catalyst Club's title of Good Neighbor. Hendrickson is one of four chosen as good neighbors this year by the organization.

The club was formed in 1981 after two local men decided there should be a way to let good neighbors know how much their efforts are appreciated.

The club's sole purpose is to choose the nominees, which come from communities within an 80-mile radius of Rapid City, and honor them at a yearly banquet. This year's event will be held today, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City.

Since the club first started in 1981, 112 good neighbors have been recognized, according to club president Joan Fenner-Sutton.

"My mother was one of the first good neighbors," Fenner-Sutton said. "When I retired in 1988, I became active. It is such a well-kept secret. We are just completely unique."

Nominations must be made by club members, but the honorees do not have to be in the organization. Fenner-Sutton said choosing only four good neighbors is a difficult job.

Aside from Hendrickson, this year's good neighbors are Dorothy Shearer of Wall, Richard Johnston of Wall and Judy Reeves of Owanka.

"I was a little surprised. But it is nice," Hendrickson said of the honor. "You don't think you do enough. There are a lot of people doing nice things in Hill City."

Hendrickson said he mostly volunteers by doing things around town. "For what you get, you give back to someone."

Hendrickson retired from Grain States after 40 years of building grain elevators and feed mills.

He has been involved with the Lions Club for about four decades. He is the current president of the Hill City Lions Club as well as the president of the South Dakota Lions Eye Bank.

"We are in the process of building a new bank in Sioux Falls," he said.

Hendrickson is also an alumnus of the Civilian Conservation Corps and is the current president for the Black Hills Chapter for the National Association of the CCC. The corps was a work-relief program established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat unemployment during the Great Depression. The act helped renew the nation's land as well as provide jobs to thousands of unemployed young men.

Hendrickson and his wife, Elaine, are also involved in starting a CCC museum in Hill City.

"Jay is always available to help anyone in need," according to Mike Verchio of the Hill City Chamber of Commerce, the group who nominated Hendrickson. "He volunteers time, use of equipment and donates generously to many of our youth and conservation activities. He helps neighbors paint, build rock walls, clear timber, build garages. … If you need help doing virtually anything, Jay is always right there."