Swan Lake Community Club honors 'Outstanding Citizen'

When the Swan Lake Community Club decided long ago to give out an award to valued community members, they decided against making it a yearly occurrence for fear of diluting its meaning.

So when the club presented Eldon Stompro with the "Outstanding Citizen" award last Tuesday night, there was no doubt that he was a deserving recipient.

Stompro is the de facto maintenance man for the Swan Lake Clubhouse, stopping in every day to take care of everything from yard work to light fixtures.

"I just happen to drive by here everyday and just stop in to check and make sure everything's OK," Stompro said.

In addition to his continued service to maintain the old building, Stompro has served a few terms as a club officer, been an active member of the Swan Lake Library Board and helped with the weekly preparation before one of Montana's longest-running bridge group meets each week for a game.

Stompro is also an active member and volunteer at Swan Chapel.

Since its extensive remodel, which was completed in 2004, the Swan Lake Clubhouse has been a jewel of the community. But the new pine hardwood floors and modern kitchen can't completely hide the fact that the building was originally constructed in 1945.

"It's a nice building," Stompro said. 'But it's an old building."

Though Stompro said some of his work is delegating the big jobs he can't handle, he said he's only too happy to help with upkeep on a building that's not just used by members of Swan Lake.

"We have wedding and family reunions here," he said. "It's a great place for those things."

In an anonymous letter to club president Diane Kautzmann nominating Stompro for the award, his many volunteer activities are listed, in addition to his help as a good neighbor in his Glacier Bay neighborhood home.

"He continually avails himself as their immediate right-hand helper," the unsigned letter states.

Stompro gets a reprieve from his daily duties during the winter, when one of the only activities hosted in the clubhouse is the Firemen's Ball, and Stompro is enjoying the sun with his wife in Arizona.