Volunteer excellence award goes to long time veteran

Published Feb. 28, 2017
By Steve Kotecki
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- For the fourth year in a row a volunteer from the Southern Colorado Retiree Activities Office has won the 21st Space Wing Volunteer of the Year Annual Award.

The award is available to civilians and retirees who continue to give back to the military in a substantial way.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Butch Read, has been volunteering at the Peterson Air Force Base retiree activities office for just over a year, but in that time he’s made a big impact.

“Butch joined us about a year ago and right from the start he jumped in with both feet, and said ‘what can I do?’” said retired Col. Bob Koenig, ROA volunteer deputy director.

“He’s very energetic, his experience when he was active duty was in finance so he helped out with the budgeting angle to get us funding for our retiree activity day here on Peterson,” Koenig said.

Read didn’t just stop at budgeting, he stepped up and volunteered to be on the leadership committee for the retiree activity day as well.
He was also the RAO representative on Fridays and would often answer phones and answer questions at the help desk.

“I had a lot of fun helping plan for the activity day, it feels good to get people out there and have a good time,” Read said.

Read credits his accolade to a willingness to help and a positive attitude.

His career started in 1959 when he joined the Air Force and continued through a civil service career.

“I just like to get out there and use a little of my time to taking care of business and helping people make life a little easier,” said Read.
Of course Read doesn’t take all the credit for himself.

“Bob’s been a big inspiration to all us volunteers at one time or another, we had over 500 people attend the activity day and a lot of that is due to Bob’s leadership,” Read said.

“Really the support of everyone that volunteers here is why this office has had a winner for the past four years,” said Koenig, “we’ve got a great bunch of people.”