For many years, the “Distinguished Service Award” given by the Downtown Kiwanis Club has been one of the most prestigious civic recognitions in our community. It is certainly fitting that the honoree this year will be Grant Law.
The award will be presented at the Kiwanis meeting at the Read House Feb. 2, with Kiwanians, friends and civic leaders applauding.
Mr. Law long headed the former Newton Chevrolet and Newton Oldsmobile-GMC-Mitsubishi automobile dealerships, but found time for many constructive civic activities.
A graduate of McCallie School, he earned a history degree at Vanderbilt University and attended the master’s business program at the University of North Carolina.
He was an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving on the destroyer USS Lowry, and was an adviser to the South Vietnamese Navy. He attained the rank of lieutenant, junior grade.
His civic interests have been many. He is past chairman of the local American Red Cross Chapter, Reflection Riding Botanical Garden and Metropolitan YMCA.
He has headed a successful United Way campaign and continues on its executive committee.
He is past president of the Rotary Club, past treasurer of Hospice, current chairman of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and a board member of YMCA.
He has served on the Arts and Education Council board, Goodwill Industries board, is past chairman of the Memorial Health Care System board, and has been president and campaign chairman of Allied Arts, and active in Chattanooga Venture, Lookout Mountain Elementary School and other public education organizations. He has been active in the University of Chattanoga Foundation and a member of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust board.
He has been stewardship chairman and endowment chairman at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal.
It is certainly obvious that Mr. Law deserves the high honor that Kiwanis is giving him.