Hank Booth has been named the 2009 recipient of the Jim and Virginia Seaver Award from Douglas County Senior Services.

Hank Booth handled his first on-air shift at KLWN when he was 11, and he’s been at the microphone ever since.

But Booth also has used his signature talents to make Lawrence a better place to live for more than five decades, say those who have named him the 2009 recipient of the Jim and Virginia Seaver Award from Douglas County Senior Services.

The Seaver Award was established in 2007 to recognize people whose volunteer service has contributed to the aging population. Booth will receive the Seaver award April 30 at Jazz It Up, a fundraiser to benefit senior services.

“So many people don’t understand everything Hank’s done in this community,” said Loris “Junior” Brubeck, owner of Jim Clark Motors in Lawrence. “If there’s a good cause, you can bet Hank’s around somewhere.”

Booth is a lifelong resident of Lawrence, a community he says was a great place to be a child.

“I could ride my bike clear across town,” he said. “It was safe, and there was always something going on.”

When his mother died, 10-year-old Hank and his sister, Bette, were raised by their father, Arden Booth, who his son said was committed to the community. Arden Booth established a local radio station in 1951.

“Dad was a single parent. When he had to work at night, we kids went with him,” Booth said.

In 1957, young Hank hit the air — and he continues to host a radio show each weekday morning.

Booth graduated in 1964 from Lawrence High School, where he played football and lettered his senior year. But he confesses: “I was not very good.” His forte was in the press box, broadcasting games, which he’s done for 38 years.

Booth attended KU and did a stint in the U.S. Army before returning to Lawrence as manager of KLWN and KLZR. (He planned to stay just a few years.)

Go-to guy

These days, Booth can be found working as director of government and community affairs at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

And he remains the “go-to guy” for several community groups. His children call him a professional volunteer, and the list of organizations he has assisted is lengthy.

“My first love is working on programs for kids,” Booth said.

Whether it’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Junior Achievement or the school district’s early-childhood programs, Booth’s quick to volunteer. He’s worked with Kansas Wildscape Foundation connecting children with outdoor programs across the state.

“There’s never been a Douglas County Fair he hasn’t been involved in. He’s been associated with 4-H since he was a child,” Brubeck said.

But Booth will lend his energy to all sorts of causes. And his partner in all these activities is his wife of 37 years, Sue.

“He is probably the most caring, dynamic, compassionate person I’ve ever known,” she said. “It’s never been about him. If there’s a problem or need, he just does something if he can. It’s from the heart.”

And the Booths’ three children have put up with a lot from their father during the years. He’s talked about their misdeeds on the radio, which they’ve handled with good humor. Andy is a fireman-medic; Amy is a school nurse; and Becca is a recent master of business administration graduate interested in public relations.

“All three are dedicated to public service and volunteer work,” their father said. “I cherish that and take it as the greatest memorial.”

A private person

Considering his many public appearances, his work with the Chamber of Commerce and his hour on the radio each weekday morning, it seems a bit out of character that Booth is a private person.

“I like to be just me thinking about stuff,” he said.

Evenings and weekends alone or with family are the times he values most. His wife and his friends know that. Four years ago, the Booths built a house on the same land where Hank grew up. It looks out over Lawrence, and Sue says it’s a magical spot.

“Hank gets energy from people,” Sue said, “but he rejuvenates at home.”

And after a bit of rest and reflection, Hank Booth heads out the door to again give his time to Lawrence and Douglas County.

“If all of the community service hours that Hank has given could be added up, it would be staggering,” said longtime friend Larry McElwain, an owner of Warren-McElwain Mortuary. “There is no one living in this community more deserving than Hank.”