Congratulations to Chris Shively, Linda Ferguson, Don Hendrickson, William Bilek, and Bernie Riedel on being selected as recipients of the Hilton Head Island Mayor’s Honored Islander Award. The award is given to Hilton Head Island residents whose steady volunteerism and good deeds enrich the island community; bolster community organizations that depend on in-kind, hands-on support; and help uplift their fellow man.
“These residents – honored islanders – are people I love to brag about,” said Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry. “They spend countless hours giving back to our community and serving others without asking for anything in return. They have big hearts, and this is our way of thanking them for what they do.”
The recipients were honored at a luncheon with Mayor Perry, sponsored by Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks. The Mayor’s Honored Islander Award program publicly recognizes residents who make a significant sacrifice of their time, talents and/or resources, to better the community without compensation or significant public or media attention. A committee of individuals appointed by the mayor reviews nominations and selects individuals to receive the award. Anyone or any organization may nominate individuals for the award through the town’s website.
Chris Shively
Home is where the heart is, and for Chris Shively, that sentiment is more than a saying; it’s a calling. Chris leads the volunteer home repair team at Deep Well, where he serves as construction supervisor. Under his steady leadership, the team has completed a wide range of projects that help homeowners remain safe and secure while creating warm, comfortable spaces for them and their families.
A retired commercial contractor, Chris moved to Hilton Head Island full-time five years ago. It wasn’t long before he found his way to Deep Well, where he put his decades of experience, craftsmanship, and contracting expertise to work in service of the community. Since joining the home repair team in 2020, Chris has played a vital role in helping Deep Well with its mission. In addition to his hands-on work in the field, he spearheaded the renovation and expansion of Deep Well’s office facilities – further demonstrating his commitment to building not just structures, but a stronger foundation for service.
Beyond Deep Well, Chris is active in the men’s group at Hilton Head Community Church and contributes his skills to the church’s facilities maintenance efforts. Through his leadership and dedication, Chris continues to embody the spirit of service, proving that home truly is where the heart is.
Linda Ann Hornbeak Ferguson
At any given time, you can find Linda Ferguson doing what she loves: volunteering. When she retired as an educator from the Beaufort County School District in 2015, her calendar quickly filled with a wide range of volunteer roles she had come to know during her more than 45 years as a Hilton Head Island resident.
Working with young people is one of her greatest passions. She serves as a trustee and lead youth advisor at Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, one of the island’s historic congregations. She is also a board member of the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, where she helps organize a summer program that encourages local youth to learn about and embrace Gullah culture. Linda’s commitment to education continues through her service on the board of the Ella C. White Memorial Scholarship Fund, where she helps raise funds to support scholarships for local high school students. In addition, she volunteers with the Pregnancy Center & Clinic of the Lowcountry and the Boys & Girls Club.
Her community involvement also includes serving as a board member for Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry and the Palmetto Electric Trust, further reflecting her deep dedication to strengthening and uplifting residents of the Hilton Head Island community and beyond.
Don Hendrickson
Through his volunteer work, Don Hendrickson is driven by a simple goal: helping others live well and succeed in life. A resident of Hilton Head Island for more than 15 years, Don has dedicated his time and energy to supporting community members through service with several local organizations.
Don serves as a board member of the Neighborhood Outreach Connection, which provides education, health, and workforce development programs designed to uplift and empower participants. Through NOC, Don also helps coordinate wellness screenings held at various locations throughout the year, expanding access to important health services. He further supports the community by tutoring adults in English through Bluffton Self Help, helping individuals build language skills that open doors to new opportunities. When he shifts into his business mindset, he volunteers with SCORE, where he mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking guidance to launch or strengthen their businesses.
Don shares his warm and welcoming spirit as a greeter at All Saints Episcopal Church, where he brings a ray of sunshine to parishioners each Sunday morning.
Dr. William Bilek
From the perspective of Dr. William Bilek, who for the past 18 years has devoted himself to caring for women on Hilton Head Island, hope and health go hand in hand. An OB/GYN physician, Dr. Bilek volunteers his time and expertise at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, where he helps ensure that women in the community receive high-quality, compassionate healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.
That commitment reflects the very principle upon which the clinic was founded when it opened its doors in 1993 – to offer free, compassionate care to people without insurance or who cannot afford medical services. At VIM, women of all ages can get a wide range of health services focused on prevention, early detection, and ongoing care. These services include pap smears, mammograms, lab and diagnostic tests, access to breast cancer support groups and more, all designed to promote long-term wellness.
Dr. Bilek’s impact goes beyond his work in the clinic. Through his compassionate approach, professionalism, and unwavering respect for patient dignity, he has helped improve health outcomes and bring hope to countless women and families on Hilton Head Island. His dedication exemplifies the very best of community service, leadership, and a deep commitment to caring for others.
Bernie Riedel
Bernie Riedel lives and breathes the Rotary Club mantra, “service above self.” He has been a dedicated volunteer and member of the Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island since 1992. As a club leader, he upholds the club’s principles to improve the lives of others around the world. His latest Rotary service calling – help make the world polio-free.
As Rotary’s Zone 33 End Polio Now coordinator, Bernie helped Rotarians work together to end polio, a serious and contagious disease. He raised awareness, advocated for polio’s eradication, and led fundraising efforts at both the district and club levels. Because of his dedication, Bernie received the Rotary Foundation’s International Service Award for a Polio Free World. He currently serves as Rotary’s Zone 33 Regional Rotary Foundation coordinator.
Over his 33 years with Rotary in Hilton Head Island, Bernie has taken on many roles, including club president, assistant governor, District 7770 governor, and District Foundation chair.
In 2004, he was District Conference Chair and was named District Rotarian of the Year. He has also received the Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Award. Outside of Rotary, Bernie volunteers with groups like the Concours d ’Elegance & Motoring Festival and St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church.