The Mathews Rotary Club has awarded Lynne Davenport, owner of Richardson’s Restaurant in Mathews Court House, with its Mathews Citizen of the Year Award.

Davenport was also nominated for the Rotary District 7610 Citizen of the Year Award, and chosen as the winner from among 54 other Rotary clubs covering such diverse areas in Virginia including Northern Virginia, west to Charlottesville and south to Mathews and Gloucester.

As a restaurant owner, Davenport has hosted numerous community fundraisers and been a major in-kind donor for local organizations which include but are not limited to the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, Mathews Volunteer Fire Department, Mathews County Little League, PATH, American Legion Post 83, and the Rotary Club of Mathews.

“Anytime that there is a tragedy or a need for a fund-raiser for something out of the norm, she steps up and uses her restaurant to host these events,” a club release stated. When asked why she does all of these great things in Mathews, her answer was “I have been blessed by God, and I am simply sowing those blessings with others.”

Although not a Rotarian herself, Davenport “truly represents Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self,’” the release stated.

Lambert honored

On the same day as Davenport received her plaque, Ron Lambert was honored as the Mathews Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year. The award was in recognition of Lambert’s involvement in many civic and charitable organizations in Mathews such as the American Legion Post 83, Volunteer Rescue Squad, Community Foundation, Hands Across Mathews, Meals on Wheels, PATH, Kingston Parish Men’s Sunday School Class and chairing annual Mathews Rotary Club fundraising events such as Flags for Heroes and the Chili Cook-off.