To California native Margie Lawrence, her co-worker, Bill Gollier, is what’s known in the Midwest as “good people.”

For nearly a decade, Gollier a teacher at Bishop Seabury Academy, has been carting students to volunteer opportunities around town.

“He is one of the most beloved teachers on campus,” Lawrence said. “He has this incredible ability to speak to and engage the boys and girls. He has this affinity for kids, they trust and look up to him.”

Richard Gwin/Journal World-Photo.Bill Gollier volunteers at the Lawrence Community Shelter and also is a history teacher at Bishop Seabury Academy at 4120 Clinton Parkway.

Each student at Bishop Seabury, 4120 Clinton Pkwy, is required to put in 30 hours of community service each year, Lawrence said. And seniors are required to do a 30-hour service project on top of their normal volunteer time.

The community service project idea came to the school with Gollier in 2006, Lawrence said, and they’ve never looked back.

“Each of us takes a group of kids and we go out to some location,” Lawrence said. “We go to the Willow Domestic Violence Center, working at the Salvation Army, food pantries, Lawrence Community Shelter, or just going to special needs homes and raking leaves.”

Before Lawrence came to Bishop Seabury, about six years ago, she said Gollier was the sole organizer for the project.

“He was the lone ranger in getting that all coordinated,” she said. “And frankly, I don’t know how he did it that long.”

Gollier, a Kansas City native, Kansas University graduate and father of two, said his work around town comes naturally to him, and he’s more than happy to put forth the effort.

“I’m very fortunate for what I’ve been given in my life,” he said. “And I just always feel like I owe something and it’s the right thing to do and it should be done.”

One of the special partnerships formed through the school’s community service project has been with the Lawrence Community Shelter, said the facility’s director of employment and volunteer coordinator, Drew Vonehrenkrook.

Once a month Gollier brings a handful of students to the shelter to serve dinner, Vonehrenkrook said.

“He’s a good guy. No one has ever had a bad word to say about him,” Vonehrenkrook said. “He’s always looking to get more involved. He’s kind of my go-to if I need something.”

Aside from his monthly dinner dates, Gollier has also dedicated his time to a number of different projects and odd jobs around the shelter, Vonehrenkrook said. Most recently he has been working to track down computers to create a career center.

Currently, the shelter doesn’t have the resources to help guests efficiently search for housing or job opportunities, Vonehrenkrook said. And a career center, with about 25 used computers and a television monitor would allow staffers to teach classes, help with resume building, conduct mock interviews and critique job applications.

“This career center is pricey, and we don’t have a whole lot of money to spend,” he said. “Any little bit does help and him (Gollier) going out of his way to find quality equipment we can use really means a lot.”

Gollier is quick to shy away from the limelight, directing attention toward the students he volunteers with.

“The Seabury kids are just absolutely amazing, just absolutely phenomenal. They just jump right in,” he said. “There’s no way to put it into words when you’re working with those kids, you just feel really blessed to be able to work with somebody like that. Nobody complains, they just jump right in and go.”

As humble as Gollier may be, Vonehrenkrook said it’s still uncommon to find someone with as much dedication to the community.

“We get a lot of volunteers. And usually it’s a one-time thing,” he said. “But with Bill, he’s always trying to actively be involved and is asking what he can do for us. It’s kind of rare to have someone come to you consistently and want to be more involved.”

Lawrence said Gollier’s enthusiasm for volunteer work is simply a part of who he is. And when that passion is combined with the supportive environment in town, his enthusiasm becomes contagious, and it quickly spreads to his students.

“I just think that’s the way he’s always been wired,” she said. “He loves people and loves to help. He helps all over Lawrence, just untotaled hours.”

Part of that thrill, Gollier said, is not only helping out the immediately needy, but teaching his students the value of giving back to their community.

Gollier said he fell in love with life in Lawrence during his college years, and he was all too happy to move back a bit later in life.

“Lawrence is just Lawrence,” he said. “It’s hard to describe the people here. The geography is unique for the state, it’s a unique town. There are so many wonderful agencies for a town this size. It’s just a great place to live.”

As his students continue to grow, fostered in a selfless and community-centric environment, Gollier said he’s sure these volunteer experiences will leave a lasting impression on them.

“I think overall they’re definitely getting something out of this that carries with them,” he said. “It does make them step out of their zone for a brief moment. They take a look at things and look at life in a different way.”

Whether his students stay in the area after their years at Bishop Seabury Academy, or whether they move on to other things, Gollier said has no plans on leaving Lawrence anytime soon.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m kind of a homebody anyway and my roots kind of get buried down. I like to travel, but I dig in pretty good. I love it. This is my home and it will continue to be.”