Honored for work with Service Organizations

Man honored for work with service organizations


By Jason Smith, staff writer
BARSTOW — He puts the flags out, supports local sports teams and distributes used eyeglasses to children in need. Ed Hignett, honored by the Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce as 2007’s man of the year, stays involved with the Lions club, the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners and other local clubs to keep busy and give back to the community.

“I feel I’m doing something,” he said. “As long as you’re helping somebody, you’ll always stay busy.”

Hignett, originally from Wallace, Idaho, has lived in Barstow for decades and said that working for Barstow’s young people keeps him motivated.

“You ever see the look on a kid’s face after you’ve helped them?” he asked. “You don’t mind working with the youth, helping out the sports teams or giving out a free pair of glasses. What goes around, comes around, I hope.”

Since retiring from NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Communications complex in 1999, Hignett divides his time among activities with the Lions, Shriners and other service groups.

Fellow Lion’s club member Carolyn Fender said she’s not sure how Hignett finds the time to participate in all of his community service projects.

“It doesn’t seem like he has his own life, he’s always doing stuff for other people,” she said.

On the holidays and when requested by the city, Lions club members line Main Street, Barstow Road and some sidestreets with 250 to 300 American flags. The club has been putting the flags out as a fundraiser since 1965 and receives $30 per year for each flag.

Members get up as early as 6:30 a.m. on holidays to put out the flags and return in the afternoon to take them down. They work in teams with one member driving a pickup truck while others ride along in a trailer placing the flags into roadside holders. They work in the cold, the wind and 110 degree heat, everything except for rain because the flags would mildew.

Hignett said the flag demonstration is as much about patriotism as fundraising.

“I wish every business in town would buy a flag because when you go up Barstow Road and see all those flags flying, it’s impressive,” Hignett said.

Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale, who knows Hignett from the Masonic Lodge and other clubs, said he was pleased to see his friend recognized for his service.

“He’s a great asset to the community, one of the unsung heroes around here,” Dale said. “He’ll help anybody, whether he knows them or not. He’s done a lot for Barstow.”

Hignett said that he didn’t expect to be nominated, much less win the award from the chamber.

“It was a real surprise,” he said. “I can be proud that they nominated me, but I don’t know what I did, because I didn’t do anything spectacular.”

He said he plans to remain in Barstow for years to come and doesn’t plan to stop volunteering anytime soon.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4126 or jason_smith@link.freedom.com