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It's about service, not self, for Exley
service above self 1
Billy Dasher, left, of the Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club, presents the clubs annual Service Above Self Award to Effingham native Stuart Exley. Exley is involved in church missions, the Georgia Farm Bureau, the Fair Committee, Family Promise, the annual Sunday School Convention and the annual Camp Meeting, among other things. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

Of the many hats and different shirts he dons, Stuart Exley now has to find room for his Service Above Self Award.

The Sunrise Rotary Club has named Exley its annual award winner, and along with it, a $250 check to Mission on the Move, his charity of choice.

“If he promises to do something, he’s going to do it and he always does more than what is expected,” said Sunrise Rotary Club member Billy Dasher. “He will surely wear out rather than rust out.”

Exley is on the Effingham County United Methodist Campground board of trustees and is the secretary/treasurer, and he puts in many hours prior to the annual Sunday School Convention and annual Camp Meeting held there. Exley has been the secretary/treasurer of the Effingham County Sunday School Association for 15 years. He was president in 1999 and has been on the executive committee since 1992.

Exley also has been involved in church activities. While a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, he was vice chairman of the congregation, finance secretary, vice-chairman of the council, Sunday school superintendent and teacher and a choir member.

Now a member of Springfield United Methodist Church, Exley has been chairman of the administrative board, member of the board of trustees and a Sunday school teacher. A former Effingham County High School band member, where he played drums and xylophone, Exley is in the Springfield UMC praise band.

A 1985 graduate of South Georgia College with an associate’s degree in science, Exley received a B.S. in technology from Georgia Southern in 1987.

He is former chairman of the Industry Advisory Board for the Manufacturing Program at GSU’s School of Technology and was chosen alumnus of the year in 2004. Exley, an avid Georgia Southern football fan, is a member of the GSU alumni board of directors and is chairman of the Eagle baseball fundraiser banquet.

Exley also is a life member and past president of the Georgia Salzburger Society. Additionally, he is a member of Historic Effingham Society and has assisted with the Olde Effingham Day annual festivals. He also has served on the Effingham County Fair Committee.

A graduate of Leadership Effingham, Exley has been active in Effingham County Farm Bureau and has served as county president since 2000. He is a member of the Marlow and Springfield chapters. He has attended local, state and national events, going as far as Hawaii, while representing Effingham farmers and keeping them informed on issues of importance. He also is a member of Young Farmers of Effingham County and is chairman of the Young Farmer ag advisory board.

Exley has been to Central American on no fewer than six trips with Mission on the Move.

Professionally, he is an environmental health and safety engineer for Gulfstream and has been there for 17 years. Exley has been a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers for 25 years and is twice past president. He also has been loaned executive to the United Way and is an active supporter of Family Promise in Effingham County.

“I like to be involved,” Exley said.