PER Clayton Huffman, 2022 Community Leader of the Year Nominee

Our very own PER Clayton Huffman has been recognized as a Nominee for Community Leader of the Year by the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce!

Here is a look at the Bio that was submitted to the Chamber, highlighting just SOME of the seemingly thousands of things that keep Clayton in a perpetual state of DOING, for our community and his fellow Veterans!

Clayton Huffman is a long time resident of the Evergreen area, a Past Exalted Ruler at the Evergreen Elks Lodge, and a Veteran of the United States Air Force, having served in the Vietnam War. 

He is an ever present supporter of the Evergreen community through the Elks Lodge. He helps with the planning and execution of many Evergreen traditions, such as the Jazz Festival, Evergreen Rodeo, and the annual Easter Egg Hunt & Free Breakfast (which has been on hiatus due to COVID).

Clayton is always doing what he can to support and better the lives of his fellow Veterans, and his community. He is the CNW District Veterans Chair for the Colorado Elks Association, a Member of the CEA Veterans Committee and the Clear Creek Veterans Coalition, and he is the Evergreen Elks Lodge Chair for Laradon Hall and Veterans Services. When he is not fulfilling his duties for those roles, he is taking action to help Veterans in any way he can, including: transporting them to/from doctors appointments, the airport, etc., buying breakfast for Veterans awaiting appointments at the VA Hospital, planning Veterans Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day Dinners, helping out at Family Day, deployment, and other CO National Guard events, helping load and transport food to Buckley Space Force Base for National Guard Families, and SO much more. And, when he’s not doing those things, he’s participating in the annual Veteran’s Walk for Hunger (COANG), the annual 9/11 walk in Idaho Springs, delivering gift cards for Veterans in need funded by CEA grants, gloves for Veterans at the Spinal Ward at Aurora VA Hospital, or working on making each year’s Wreaths Across America Day in the Evergreen area bigger, better, and more meaningful than the year before.

To say that his efforts go above and beyond would be an understatement. He strives to ensure that each and every Veteran he interacts with and supports knows, without any doubt, how valuable they, and their service to the Unites States and it’s Armed Forces truly are. They part with him knowing that they are appreciated and honored, and, very likely, with Clayton’s phone number in their pocket, so that, should they ever need a thing, they know how to reach him!

He is, without question, a selfless and devoted Champion for his fellow Veterans. Regardless of age, Branch, Rank, or any other factor, he treats every Veteran as a Hero, who deserves honor and respect from all American citizens. He never backs down from a challenging situation, and is never too busy to lend a helping hand when it is needed. And all that he does, he does with a warm smile, and a kind heart.

Make sure you submit your vote for Clayton at https://evergreenchamber.org/