Paul E. Nelson became the newest inductee into the Second Wind Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Rotary Club of Tryon on Aug. 16. Eloise T Johnson, a very active Second Wind member, was the initiating sponsor for selecting Nelson for this honor.
Nelson moved to the Thermal Belt with his late wife in 2003 from Punta Gorda, Fla. Before retirement, they had lived in Albion, Mich. and Wichita, Kan.
Nelson has been a Rotarian continuously since 1963, serving nine of those years in the Rotary Club of Tryon. His other community activities include nine years with the Fellowship Council, three years with the Foothills Village Project, seven years as a columnist for the Tryon Daily Bulletin and eight years with the Lanier Library. While a board member of Habitat for Humanity, he was chair of the publicity committee.  For the Tryon Swim Club, he was a trustee.
Nelson served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946.  His education progressed to a bachelor of science in foreign commerce from Georgetown University and a masters in health care administration from Washington University. His career began in management with Sears Roebuck and grew to managing hospitals in Wichita, Kan. and Albion, Mich.
The Second Wind Hall of Fame is a 30 year old Thermal Belt organization. Its mission is to identify and celebrate those community volunteers who give their time, their talents and their money for the benefit of mankind. Current membership in Second Wind is approaching 180 outstanding volunteers. The Rotary Club is appreciative to member Eloise Johnson for her initiatives to bring to Nelson the honor earned.
– article submitted by Larry Poe