Bob and Billie Delaney named Humanitarians of the Year

Bob and Billie Delaney with the John A. Clarke Humanitarian of the Year  Award. (Photo by James A. Jones Jr.)

Bob and Billie Delaney became the second couple to be named John A. Clarke Humanitarians of the Year by the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund on Friday.

Bob Delaney, former undercover police investigator, NBA referee, and author, may be the famous one, but he said he couldn’t do what he does without the full participation and support of his wife Billie.

In accepting the award, named after the first recipient, the former president and CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Bob Delaney talked about the service and sacrifice of members of the American armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has visited those troops several times in the war zones and in the military hospital in Germany where many go to recover from wounds.

The willingness of those Americans to serve their country offers an example in how to serve and sacrifice for others, he said.

Check out our gallery of photos:

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/10/21/3588987/photo-gallery-lakewood-ranch-community.html#http://media.bradenton.com/smedia/2011/10/21/19/52/aeorJ.St.69.jpg

For more see Saturday's Herald.

Jim