Nothing seems to keep Robert “Bob” Page of Ellerbe down. The co-owner of Robert Page Tax Service in Ellerbe has retired but still makes time for the people in the community.

Page, who was born in South Carolina in 1936, was awarded the “Distinguished Citizen of the Year” award on Saturday by the Ellerbe Lions Club.

“It was quite a shock and honor to be selected,” he said. “I found out about it about three or four days before.”

Not the one to boast, Page modestly said he does what he does because he loves the people of Richmond County and they mean a lot to him.

Page is a former Ellerbe Lions Club member but due to time and job conflicts he had to resign. He moved to Ellerbe in the 1950’s and left for a time and came back to live full time in the 1970’s.

He has also worked for Dieffenbach and L.G. DeWitt.

Page has been a deacon of Ellerbe First Baptist Church and served on the Ellerbe Town Council from December 1982 to December 1986.

Back in the 1992, when John Brady was the minister of church, he, along with Brady and Mike Williams, took a van to Belize, in Central America for Brady’s parents to use in their ministry there.

According to the Ellerbe Lions Club book, Page has, among other acts, given cash to those who were in dire financial straits and refused payments even when circumstances were better for them; and assisted those who needed to relocate due to dangerous life situations by finding housing and helping them move. He also took people to their medical appointments when they had no other way to get there.

“I am very proud that he is a citizen of Ellerbe,” said Mayor Olivia Webb.

Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or by e-mailing at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com