Four Hilton Head residents receive Mayor’s Honored Islander Award
Four Hilton Head Island residents have received the Mayor’s Honored Islander Award for their volunteer work and contributions to local organizations and community programs.
Dave Peck, Kevin Naughten, Joe Rowey and Dr. Roselle L. Wilson were recognized during the Oct. 13 Town Council meeting. They also were honored at a luncheon with Mayor Alan Perry, sponsored by Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks.
The award recognizes residents who contribute their time, talents and resources to the community without compensation or significant public recognition.
“Every day, these residents make Hilton Head Island a better place to live. They show up, roll up their sleeves, and put others first. I’m grateful for their generosity, and it’s an honor to celebrate them,” Perry said.
Peck, a Hilton Head Island resident and business owner, has supported local organizations through fundraising and volunteer work, particularly with the Island Recreation Association.
In 2016, he helped launch Jeep Island, an event benefiting the association, and has remained involved in organizing and supporting the fundraiser.
His efforts have helped raise more than $350,000 for the association’s Children’s Scholarship Fund, which provides children with access to recreational activities and child care programs.
In addition to his involvement with the recreation association, Peck serves on the Wine and Food Festival Committee, contributing his time to another of the island’s community events. He also supports charitable efforts through the businesses he owns.
Naughten, a Hilton Head Island resident for more than five years, has devoted much of his volunteer time to local public safety agencies and community events.
He volunteers at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Southern Command and Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue headquarters, supporting organizations that serve residents and visitors.
His community involvement extends to several of the island’s major annual events. He has volunteered at the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the RBC Heritage golf tournament and the Concours d’Elegance.
Naughten also helped with the town’s 360/40 anniversary celebration, which was among the community events supported by his volunteer efforts.
Rowey has been an active member of the Van Landingham Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island since 2019 and serves as the club’s immediate past president.
His involvement includes helping lead fundraising activities that support the club’s charitable work. Among those efforts are Rotary’s annual auction and the food tent operated by the club near the eighth green during the RBC Heritage golf tournament.
Rowey also participates in hands-on service projects throughout the community. Alongside fellow Rotary members, he helps deliver 100 food baskets to island residents during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
His volunteer work also includes bagging oyster shells for the Outside Foundation’s oyster reef project, which supports local oyster reef restoration efforts, and helping clean the grounds of Hilton Head Island High School before graduation.
Through those activities, Rowey has contributed to projects involving food assistance, environmental stewardship and school grounds maintenance.
Wilson, a retired education administrator, became a full-time Hilton Head Island resident 14 years ago and has since participated in a range of civic and community organizations.
Her involvement has included serving on the town’s 10-Year Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, contributing to discussions about the island’s long-term planning and development.
She also served on the town’s affordable housing focus group, participating in efforts addressing one of the community’s housing concerns.
Wilson has contributed her experience to several nonprofit organizations through service on their boards of directors, including the Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island Gullah Museum and Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association.
Her volunteer involvement also includes the Juneteenth Celebration Committee and other civic organizations. Her work has connected her with groups involved in local history, cultural preservation, community affairs and public planning.
The Mayor’s Honored Islander Award program recognizes residents who make significant contributions to Hilton Head Island through volunteer service, often without seeking public attention.
A committee appointed by the mayor reviews nominations and selects award recipients. Individuals and organizations may nominate residents through the town’s website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
