Warner Robins man hoping to 'leave this place better than I found it'

With decades of volunteerism to his name, Jack Steed's goal in life is to "leave this place better than I found it." And that is exactly what the past few decades of his life's work shows he has accomplished.

At age 85, Steed of Warner Robins has a two-page list of community activities dating from 1980 to the present. Some of the organizations he has worked with include the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, the Robins Air Force Base 21st Century Partnership, the American Heart Association, the Warner Robins Are Chamber of Commerce, The Warner Robins Clean Community Commission/Keep Warner Robins Beautiful, the Air Force Association, the Warner Robins Optimist Club, the Christ United Methodist Church Building Committee, the United Way of Central Georgia and much more. His list of volunteer awards and accomplishments from his service is as equally impressive.

"If I'm not here working, I am doing something volunteer," he said. "My time is occupied ... sometimes I don't have enough time."

Retired as an Air Force senior command chief master sergeant, Steed said he then worked for Bank South until 1996 and now works as a consultant for Nichols, Cauley and Associates, LLC, working primarily in business development.

Presented with the United Way of Central Georgia's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual meeting, Steed said he was surprised.

"It is just icing on the cake," he said. "I've belonged to many organizations, but United Way of Central Georgia is probably my favorite because it helps more people. It was just a great surprise ... very humbled by it, and I am just grateful."

George McCanless, president and CEO of United Way of Central Georgia, said when the group was in the selection process for a recipient of the award, Steed's name just kept coming up. He said Steed's help was instrumental in the merger of the United Ways in Bibb, Houston and Baldwin counties in the late 1980s to form United Way of Central Georgia. McCanless said that prior to 1989, each of these counties had its own United Way set up, but the idea of the merger was for the United Way in each county to go in together and form the United Way of Central Georgia, with the understanding that it would be a more efficient use of resources to serve the whole 14-county area. He said Steed was on the board of United Way of Houston County at the time and "was the voice of reason that ultimately convinced them that this was the right thing to do ... for the area and Houston County."

"It would not be the United Way of Central Georgia right now if it wasn't for him back in 1989," McCanless said. "He was the leader in getting the merger approved by everyone."

Remembering back, Steed said he was strongly for the merger and had to overcome some pretty strong opposition to it.

"We have a number of organizations that have people working in both counties," he said. "It was better to have one United Way representative rather than more than one. It just made sense ... it was just a good move. It gave us more strength."

In addition to being instrumental to the merger, McCanless said that in 1994, when the flood hit Macon and the city was without water for several weeks, United Way was a critical player in all of the relief efforts that were going on; however, it was difficult to work without water.

"Jack would load his car up with gallons of water every day and drive them up here for the staff, so they could come in to work and help with the relief efforts," he said. "That goes to show you the kind of person he is. It wasn't an official responsibility of his, he was just trying to do what he could to help with the situation."

Debra Jones, executive director for Keep Warner Robins Beautiful, said Steed has worked with KWRB since 1987 and now holds an emeritus trustee position. She said he has had his fingers in the areas of beautification, education and outreach.

In 2013, KWRB named The Jack Steed Unity Park, located at the intersection of Leverette Road and Corder Road, after Steed because of his involvement in beautification, Jones said.

"I can't think of anyone that's more deserving," she said, commenting about Steed's latest award. "He didn't work hard for the award, he worked hard because it is personally rewarding to him."

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Warner Robins man hoping to 'leave this place better than I found it' ."