Carla Youngblood Award

Carla Youngblood Spirit Award winner Butch Hanby is shown standing between his wife Beverly, and Santa Claus, who was making an appearance for the annual holiday bake sale. Other Friends of the Berryville Library are present to show their support for all Butch has done to support the community and the Friends of the Berryville Library. Submitted photo

Posted Tuesday, December 20, 2022 5:01 pm

Butch Hanby is the latest recipient of the Friends of the Berryville Library’s Carla Youngblood Community Spirit Award.

The award, presented quarterly, recognizes individuals who perform silent acts of kindness without expecting a reward like its namesake, Carla Youngblood, who worked as a librarian at the Berryville Library for many years.

Hanby received the award at a presentation during the Friends’ annual holiday bake sale. A Berryville native, Hanby has blessed numerous charitable organizations, including the Friends of the Berryville Library, with donations of his famous hand-carved Hanby Knives. His knives are highly sought-after and coveted because of the immense amount of detail and attention he gives to creating each one.

“To meet Butch is such an uplifting experience,” said Friends of the Berryville Library board member Carol Ann Engskov, who presented the award to Hanby. “With his smile and one of his signature hugs, you know your day has been blessed. He loves Carroll County and gives of himself to make it a loving and caring place to live.”

The Hanby Lumber Company has been an icon in this community for generations. The business remains successful today and is being run by Hanby’s son-in-law.

Not only is he known to share his talents to benefit others, but Hanby also loves giving of his time to assist friends in need. He is quick to help and many times you will find him driving his friends to out-of-town medical appointments.

“I probably get more joy out of helping others than they get from me,” Hanby said during the award presentation. “I just like doing things for others.”

“We are fortunate to have Butch Hanby in our community, and we are happy to recognize him for the many unheralded ways he has made this community an even better place to live,” library advisory board member Tyler Squires said. “It would be a fair statement to say that everyone in Berryville at one time or another has been touched by the Hanby family.”

As the latest recipient of the Carla Youngblood award, Hanby will receive a complimentary membership to the Friends of the Berryville Library, and a $50 award to a nonprofit of his choice, along with having his name on a perpetual plaque that hangs prominently in the Berryville Library.

For more information on becoming a Friend of the Berryville Library, contact the Berryville Library at 870-423-2323 or stop by the library at 104 Spring St.