Best of Siloam Springs

S ince 1984, the Pioneer Citizen Award has been given to members of the Siloam Springs community who give back to a city they love, and pave the way for the future of Siloam. In order to be considered for this award by the Pioneer Citizen committee, the person must be a resident of Siloam Springs for at least 10 years, be at least 65 years old, and be heavily involved, past or present, in various activities or committees of the City of Siloam Springs, Main Street Siloam Springs, or the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce. is year's Pioneer Citizen Award recipients were awarded at the 91st Annual Banquet in January. e winners are Craig Taylor and John and Kathy Turner. A perfect example of a Pioneer Citizen, Craig Taylor has spent his life helping others, through his career as an insurance agent and his volunteer work for both the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club. Craig follows in the footsteps of another Pioneer Citizen—his late father Ervin Taylor—who served as a Chamber Board Chair and also received the award in 2002. Craig was born in Albert Lea, Minn., lived in Bentonville for a short time, and moved to Siloam Springs when he was 5 with his parents Ervin and Mona. He attended Siloam Springs Schools and also active in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Webelo Scouts Leader and International Order of DeMolay. Craig spent a year at the University of Arkansas, then came back to Siloam Springs to work in customer service for Jet Stream Plastics, now known as Pipelife Jet Stream. In 1981, he made career change to become an insurance agent for American National Insurance. From 2000 to 2001, Craig ran his own insurance agency before joining Moss Insurance Group in 2001. He retired from the agency in November. He quickly became known as someone who always tried to get his customers the best insurance he could and put their needs first. "I enjoyed helping people with their problems. … I didn't do it for the money. It was a matter of helping people. at was my main emphasis," Craig said. Craig served the Chamber of Commerce for more than two decades. He was also a part of the Dogwood Festival Committee, and has also been a member of the Siloam Springs Kiwanis for 33 years. In 2018, he received the Ervin Taylor Kiwanian of the Year Award, named aer his father. "ere is not a more dedicated Kiwanis member anywhere than Craig Taylor," Katie Rennard, Kiwanis Program Chair said. "If we have a volunteer project, he is there. He never misses a board meeting. He serves as our treasurer and manages all of our finances and donations to community organizations, and he does everything he can to build our club and serve the children of Siloam Springs." Outside of Kiwanis and the Chamber, Taylor has served the community through the First United Methodist Church, on the Pool of Siloam committee and as a board member and president of United Way. "ere needs to be more Craig Taylors in the world," Shelter Insurance Agent Jerrell Suttles said. The 2021 Pioneer Citizen Award honors Craig Taylor heroeS locAl i enjoyed helping people with their problems. i didn't do it for the money. it was a matter of helping people. that was my main emphasis. ~ craig taylor 20 • Best of Siloam Springs Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader Ad Number: 042821nwr4601 Thank you for voting us one of the Best Of in Siloam Springs! Thank You! Jimmy Allen AGENT 816 S. Mount Olive St., Siloam Springs 479-524-4183 JAllen@ShelterInsurance.com Sarah Losh AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. Ad Number: 042821NWR4611 21173 Chesney Road • Siloam Springs 479-220-2679 • www.ozarkmobiledetail.com Thanks for Voting! Detail - Refinishing Liquid Wraps

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