Certified public accountant Grady P. Williams has been named as the 2008 Distinguished Service Award winner by the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga.

He will be formally presented the award on Jan. 27.

Mr. Williams said Friday he was surprised upon hearing that he had won.

“I’m very, very honored and humbled,” he said. “There are other people who deserve this more than I do.”

A news release from the Kiwanis Club said Mr. Williams is a philanthropist and community leader. Kiwanis Club officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

Mr. Williams grew up in the Sequatchie Valley and graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in accounting. He served two years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper.

On Friday, he said he worked for the accounting firm of Hazlett, Lewis & Bieter for 47 years. He now works for Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain, he said.