SID AND HAZEL DILLON RECEIVE DANA'S HANSON SERVANT AWARD

Dana College presented Sid and Hazel Dillon with the Cliford T. and D. Florence Hanson Servant Award during the annual Dana College Builders Luncheon, Friday, May 23.

The Hanson Servant Award recognizes individuals who model selfless devotion and gives recognition to ordinary people who do extraordinary things inspired by faith, love and service.

“Both Sid and Haze Dillon have given unselfishly of themselves and their resources to church, community agencies and institutions, including Dana College,” said Dr. Myrvin Christopherson, Dana College president. “They have built automobile dealerships known for the highest standards of professionalism, customer relations and ethical business practices.”

Both native Omahans, Sid and Hazel (“Haze”) Dillon, attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. They married in 1956 and have four children and 10 grandchildren. They moved to Fremont, Neb., in 1976, where they founded Sid Dillon, Inc., an automobile agency that includes four dealerships in eastern Nebraska.

Sid Dillon has served on the boards of Midland Lutheran College, Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Club, First Lutheran Church in Fremont, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Fremont YMCA, Dodge County Memorial Hospital Foundation, Fremont Memorial Cemetery, Omaha Symphony and Lutheran Family Services. He currently serves on the boards of Alegent Health, Immanuel Health Systems and Omaha Hope Center.

Haze Dillon is past president of Fremont Area Art Association, Chapter EX, P.E.O. and Women of First Lutheran Church (Fremont). She has served on the advisory board of Fremont Area Community Foundation and the board of Nebraska Women’s Fellowship. She is currently on the board of Care Corps and Fremont Area Community Foundation and is an area ambassador for the Aksarben Friendship Circle.

“We feel it’s our duty and responsibility to share the blessings God has given us,” Hazel Dillon said about her family’s commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy.

They have especially been inspired to help children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds get the same chances in life as others, but often do it with as little fanfare as possible.

“We were very overwhelmed by the fact that (Dana College) even thought of us (for the Hanson Award),” Hazel Dillon said.

The Hanson Servant Award was presented to the Dillons during the Dana College Builders Luncheon, an annual celebration for donors who have included Dana College in their estate plans. The award is named for Dr. Clifford T. and D. Florence Hanson, who, during their lifetimes, were inspired by their Christian faith to give generously of themselves in service to their church, community, country and Dana College. Clifford Hanson was a professor of philosophy and religion at Dana and the first to be named vice president of academic affairs. Florence Hanson was an associate in ministry at First Lutheran Church in Blair for several years, was involved with numerous civic organizations and served as campus hostess for many Dana College functions.

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution that currently enrolls approximately 600 students. The campus is located on 150 acres overlooking the Missouri River Valley in Blair, Neb. Dana grants bachelor’s degrees in more than 35 liberal arts, business, education and pre-professional programs, with an emphasis on personalized teaching from experienced and dedicated faculty. Dana is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and its athletic teams compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

More information on Dana College can be found at www.dana.edu.

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For more information contact:

Sarah Cavanah, Dana College Communications Coordinator,
(402) 426-7216, scavanah@fs1.dana.edu