The Andalusia Rotary Club recognized John Vick with its Spirit of Andalusia award Tuesday, citing his extensive community service work, and especially his effort to introduce youth to tennis.

Vick established the Andalusia Tennis Association in 2001. Each year, the group organizes a summer tennis camp for young people. More than 1,000 young people have received tennis lessons through this program.

Mayor Earl Johnson presented the award on behalf of the club.

Vick also has been an active member of the Andalusia Lions Club and First United Methodist Church, where he has held many leadership roles.

He also has served on Auburn’s University’s National Alumni Association board, and is a former president of the Alabama Wildlife Federation and the Covington County Cattlemen’s Association. He also has served on Auburn University’s Forestry Advisory Committee.

He has been a director of CCB Community Bank for more than 40 years, and currently serves as chairman of the board of Southern National Corp., the holding company for four CCB banks.

As a 1958 graduate of Andalusia High School, he earned a four-year Naval ROTC scholarship. He earned a mechanical engineering degree from Auburn in 1962, and entered the U.S. Navy where he served four years. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (O-3) before leaving active duty in 1966.

He is an avid supporter of veterans and has worked to document veterans’ stories.

He and his wife, Faye, have three adult daughters.

The club also named Vick a Paul Harris Fellow, contributing $2,000 to the Rotary International Foundation in his name. RI has as its major initiative the international eradication of polio, but also funds other charitable projects, such as building wells for clean drinking water.

Immediate past president Stallion Sasser also was named a Paul Harris Fellow