The Elks National Veterans Service Commission is happy to announce that Howard Boyd as the 2024 Elks Veterans Service Volunteer of the Year!
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who’s dedicated more time to serving veterans than Boyd. When his Lodge members came together to secretly nominate him for this award, we knew we’d found our winner.
Though he was surprised and somewhat speechless when we called to let him know of his selection, his lifetime of service to veterans is evident to all who know him.
“You could say that I have been a veterans advocate since 1966 when I enlisted in the Marine Corps, served a tour in Viet Nam, and upon getting out of the service, starting working for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 35 years,” Boyd says. “Serving veterans has been my career, and I couldn’t be more proud in doing so.”
For many, working for the VA would be enough, but not for Boyd. Though his career with the VA moved him and his family to different locations, he found and joined an Elks Lodge in each one. At these Lodges, he also found a group of people who shared his commitment to serving veterans.
In 1991, he was asked to serve as State Veterans Chair for the West Virginia Elks Association. He accepted the challenge and has remained in the role ever since, while also serving as Exalted Ruler twice, State Vice-President three times, State President once, a District Deputy, and a Grand Lodge Committeeman.
Within West Virginia, worked with the state to establish the Adopt-a-Veteran Committee, and built the program up to provide thousands of dollars a year to West Virginia Elks in need of support.
He also helped establish strong support for the Veterans Leather Program within the state, rallying the huge amount of volunteer support needed to keep this program running.
With his experience at the VA, he guided West Virginia volunteers to make the most of their Voluntary Service positions. Nationally, his connections and expertise helped guide the Elks to expand and improve Elks participation in the Voluntary Service program. He also collaborated with then-ENVSC Director Michael Manning on the establishment of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission office in Chicago, and as a State Veterans Chair, continues to consult on ENVSC programs today.
This expansion of the Elks Voluntary Service Program led to an increased Elks presence at the national level, including an invitation to serve on the Executive Committee of the Center for Development and Civic Engagement National Advisory Committee. This position gives the Elks access to the VA Secretary’s office, and other national VA employees, offering the Elks recognition and a voice.
Upon Boyd’s retirement from the VA, he received a Distinguished Career Award from then VA Secretary Anthony Principi.
With this award, we honor Howard for his time outside of work, building connections, recruiting and supporting volunteers, and always staying true to his mission of service to veterans.
For his constant, steady, and expert work in service to his fellow veterans, we are proud to call Howard Boyd the 2024 Elks Veterans Service National Volunteer of the Year.
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