Gorman receives Exchange Club’s Golden Deeds award

Dan Gorman has, for 25 years, spent his Thanksgiving and Christmas days making sure others have a good holiday meal.  
On Thursday, the lifelong Owatonna resident and volunteer received the Exchange Club’s annual Book of Golden Deeds award, recognizing his years of service. Gorman didn’t seek out the award; in fact, he actively tried to avoid it.  
“This isn’t what I do anything for,” he said as he accepted the honor. “I tried to work my best out of being nominated.”  
Gorman was among five nominees who also included Sue and the late Dave Schroeder, Kay Oberle, Kathleen Miller, and Taylor Herman. Community members submitted their names for recognition.   
Emcee Steve Carroll said the evening was a chance to express gratitude to the people who “do the little things quietly.” The award process, he said, starts with nominations.  
“It’s such an honor to be nominated,” Carroll said. “This means that your efforts are noticed and appreciated, and the kudos are deserved... Know that the honor of your nomination will always be celebrated.”  
Nominees are judged by a committee using a point system. Carroll said it’s never easy to choose from the list.  
“I’ve been on this committee for many, many years, and we get down to the tenths, the fractions of numbers,” he said. “It’s very, very hard to choose just one. Everybody here does such outstanding work.”  
Gorman, whose sisters and their families attended the event at Torey’s restaurant in downtown Owatonna, said their parents “showed us the way.”  
“(Volunteering) was just part of life,” he said. “You didn’t expect anything out of it.” 
While he didn’t always raise his hand in school, Gorman said, “now that I’m out of school, I don’t put my hand down.” That’s evident in his lifetime of activities, which includes the Jaycees, Exchange Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and chairing the Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser. 
Gorman has also been involved with the Steele County Historical Society as a board member and tour guide, with the United Way as a pledge drive chair, with Steele County Free Fair, Meals on Wheels, Ataxia and Alzheimer’s research golf tournaments, Relay for Life, and the American Heart Association. 
During the holidays, he runs the phone bank and coordinates meal delivery for Owatonna’s Community Dinners.  
Along with a plaque from the Exchange Club, Gorman received a proclamation from Owatonna Mayor Thomas Kunz, who declared April 22, 2022 “Dan Gorman Day” in Owatonna.  
"This is quite an honor, and it’s something I’ll treasure,” Gorman said.  
The Book of Golden Deeds event also included recognition of previous award winners. Guest speaker Annette Duncan, United Way of Steele County president, talked about her own experiences with different types of volunteerism, from organized groups to people going the extra mile during her childhood.  
“We all have a desire to help, however not everyone has the courage to be first,” she said. “Sue, Kay, Kathleen, Taylor, Dan, you have the courage, and you lead the way for the rest of us every single day.”