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Gage’s love of community earns him outstanding volunteer award

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Howard Gage is this year's recipient of United Way's Geraldine Hedberg Tocqueville Society Award.

JANESVILLE — Howard Gage was an active community volunteer until his health deteriorated in 2004.

“Due to that, I kind of dropped out of sight,’’ he said.

Even so, Gage, 72, remained president of the Janesville Education Foundation, owner and operator of Videogenics and consultant/producer for the Janesville School District’s television Channel 96.

But it took a tragedy—the death of his son John—to pull him back to volunteerism.

“When he died, it was up to me to see that the flood video did what he wanted it to do—help others,’’ Gage said.

It has.

A flood fund created in June by the North Rock County United Way and Stateline United Way contained $68,867 earlier this month. Nearly $44,000 of that money came from sales of and donations for a video about the summer flooding produced by John and Howard.

The effort has earned Gage this year’s United Way of North Rock County Geraldine Hedberg Tocqueville Society Award, which recognizes an outstanding community volunteer. He’ll receive it Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Gage credits his late son.

“It just wouldn’t have happened without him because he brought me back into the fold,” Howard said.

Gage’s decision to complete the flood video is the main reason Dave Johnson, general manager at The Janesville Gazette and co-chairman of United Way’s 2008 fundraising campaign, nominated Gage for the honor.

“Once again, Howard put United Way first in his priorities,” Johnson said.

Through the years, Gage has done it all for the United Way—from leading the board of directors to serving as campaign chairman—with a mix of humor, common sense and enthusiasm, Johnson said.

Gary Smith, past president of United Way of North Rock County, was delighted and not surprised Gage will be recognized.

“Howard has a love for this community, an unbelievable sense of humor and is willing to help anybody,” he said.

Smith said Gage was a driving force in two areas at United Way: starting the Volunteer Network and creating the position of community relations manager.

“The study we did that Howard was involved in showed it was worth the investment,’’ Smith said.

Smith said Gage created many of the United Way’s promotions and campaign videos it otherwise could not have afforded.

“He does so much for this community, a lot of times it’s behind the scenes,’’ Smith said.

Gage retired in 1998 from the Janesville School District as coordinator of public information.

“To be truthful, I didn’t want to be on the front lines,” Gage said. “I’m more comfortable crouching behind the scenes.’’

Gage said volunteering is part of his Christian values and has included being a Forward Janesville ambassador, a member of three National School Public Relations Association committees, a member of the Scholarships for Technical and Recognized Training program and serving on the Janesville Salvation Army’s Advisory Board.