Throughout the past Rotary year, the Rotary Club of Carrollton celebrated one exceptional member each month with the Rotarian Spotlight: The Heart Behind the Pin Award. Each honoree demonstrated the strength, commitment, and spirit of service that define our Rotary family.

At our recent end of the year awards presentation and passing of the gavel ceremony, the year’s honorees were invited forward to be recognized individually and celebrated as a collective force within the club. Each member has shown what it truly means to wear the Rotary pin both as a symbol and a calling. They have led with heart, served with purpose, and made an impact extending far beyond what can truly be measured.

The celebration also marked the beginning of a meaningful new chapter for our club. The award and its recipients will now carry the name of a Rotarian who passed in August 2025 and embodied its ideals of service, humility, and commitment – Mr. Jim Gill. For more than 40 years, Jim helped shape our club through his leadership, generosity, and unwavering dedication to Rotary. In recognition of his remarkable legacy, the club’s honorees will now be known as members of The Jim Gill Hearts Behind the Pin Society. This distinguished group represents the very soul of our club and the enduring power of service above self.

It was especially fitting that the newly named society welcomed one additional member during the ceremony. Jim’s son, Jay, was recognized as its 13^th member and first official inductee. Although Jay has followed in the footsteps of his father and stands on the shoulders of a giant, he has also built a legacy of service entirely his own. Through his contributions to the club, Jay has carved his own path and made a meaningful difference in the lives of others. His induction both honored his father’s memory and celebrated Jay’s individual commitment to Rotary.

Each member of The Jim Gill Hearts Behind the Pin Society received a certificate recognizing their service, honoring Jim Gill, and commemorating their place in this special group. Jim’s legacy lives on through the members who lead, serve, and care for others with the same humility and dedication that characterized his decades of service. Their example reminds us that the heart behind the pin is what truly defines Rotary at its best.