Hugh's News & Commentary

One of the many joys I have as the founder, CEO, and editor of Hugh's News is to select each year the man or woman of the year. My prayer each year is that the Holy Spirit will guide me in that selection process. I do not take that annual project lightly, but reverently and respectfully.

I remember well a radio program I loved to hear as a boy and teenager. It was called Major Bowes Amateur Hour. It was a talent show and some amazing people were on it. It was probably one of the most popular radio broadcasts in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. Major Bowes would say every week, "Around and round she goes, and where she stops, not body knows."

I do not predetermine who that person will be each year. However, I think it is time now that I go about selecting a woman of the year for 2012.

For one year, Daneel L. le Roux, whose birthday was yesterday, December 28, will have certain benefits and honors bestowed upon him. It just happened to be the day of his birthday when I announced that he was chosen as The 2011 Hugh's News Man of the Year.

Getting to know Daneel is an interesting process.  Although I have known him for over five decades, and often visited with him and his wife, there were a myriad of things about him and his work I never knew.  I hope you will find him to be a man of many talents as well as a man for all seasons.

For me it is a rarity to find a man like Daneel who is so dedicated to God and caught up in getting to know more about Him--His love, grace, mercy and presence, and who is willing to demonstrate what he has learned to help other people in need. He has done precisely that by his record of many accomplishments in the workplace.

We, as members of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, are extremely proud to have Daneel in our church. His story illustrates what God can do for any person who will put his or her trust in Jesus Christ. Although Daneel will retire on December 31, 2011, I am sure we will hear more about this man of God who has touched so many lives and will continue to do so in the years to come. I believe God has designed this transition in Daneel's life and will surely provide the grace for all that is to follow in the days and years to come.

Daneel and his wife, Betty Von Moore le Roux, reside in Greenville, NC. They are members of the First Pentecostal Holiness Church there. I am sure the future is bright for both of them, and we pray that God will grant them wisdom and glowing health [strength, might and power] (Daniel 2:23, The Living Bible).

Vita of Daneel L. le Roux

(A Vita is a brief biographical view of a person's life)

• Active Rotarian for the past 40 years.

• Since 1972, has been a member of the following:
- Greenville Rotary Club
- Greenville Noon Rotary Club
- Greenville Morning Rotary Club (Charter Member)

• President of the Greenville Morning Rotary Club from 1994 – 1995

• A Paul Harris Fellow

• A Paul Harris Sustaining Member

• Hosted the GSE Team from England during their visit to Greenville.

• Recruited GSE team members for the 1998, 1999 & 2000 exchange programs

• Serving as Co-Chair of Vocational Service for the Greenville Morning Rotary Club (1999 – 2000)

• Serving as Chairman of Vocational Service for Rotary District 7720 (1999 – 2000)

• Assistant Governor of District 7720 (1997 – 2000)

• Recipient of the “Outstanding Rotarian in District 7720” award (1999)

• Rotarian of the Year in 1999 & 2002.

• Member of Hurricane Floyd Disaster Relief Committee for District 7720 since September of 1999. This involves weekly meetings to assess and evaluate needs, and to distribute funds to flood victims. To date, over three hundred have received aid through this Committee. This is an ongoing effort.

• Rotarian of the Year, Area 6, District 7720. (2009)

• District Governor, Rotary International, (2006 – 2007)

• Rotary International Chairman, District 7720. (2007 - 2010)

• Rotary International Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. (2009)

• Milton Cohen Leadership Award, National Council Work Centers. (2009)