by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — After losing his wife Carolyn of 50 years last February, Lindal Nelson began volunteering in the Wellington community.

CornerBank noticed his commitment to the community and awarded him the Cornerstone Award this year with a ceremony Thursday afternoon at the bank during the Kansas Wheat Festival.

“This is the best, this is the greatest honor I’ve ever gotten,” Nelson said. “I enjoy what I do.”

Born David L. Nelson (people use his Lindal middle name) was born in Texas, and grew up in Lubbock. His son, Michael Nelson, is the pastor of the Wellington Church of Christ, where he is a member.

Lindal and Carolyn Nelson moved here in the fall of 2014. After she died in February 2015, he began doing volunteer work for the community.

“Wellington is a great place,” Nelson said. “All that I’ve accomplished is because of you all. Part of my success is because of you all. Since I lost Carolyn, I can help you all and the community.”

For 26 years, Nelson taught vocational agriculture, and even taught in Australia for a year. He also worked for a swine breeding company and stayed in France with the quarantined pigs.

“The biggest change is the farm machinery, and the land farms are totally different,” Nelson said.

He helps take care of the community garden, which is located across from the Panhandle Railroad Museum on East Harvey, and also is a big part of the newly formed group, Impact Kids, which teaches kids to work and volunteer.

Lindal Nelson had plenty of supporter’s for Thursday’s award.

“It (Impact Kids) gets kids involved, and someday they will help people,” Nelson said. “It teaches them to work. We get the kids involved in anything to work.”

In addition to the award, Nelson was given a $100 check to donate to the charity of his choice, and he chose Impact Kids.

Follow us on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter.