JOHNSTOWN — The Fulton County Republican Club awarded Lee Hollenbeck a lifetime achievement award for his political service during the club's annual Lincoln Dinner on Monday, officials said.
The Charles Hough Memorial Award honors a local volunteer who gave generously of their time and effort to further the cause of “Republican ideals,” according to the dinner program..
Hollenbeck has a long career in local politics. He was a Fulton County Farm Bureau member for 57 years, including 13 years as chairman; a 4H leader for many years; president of the Fulton County Cooperative Extension for two years; Broadalbin town supervisor for 12 years; a member of the town’s planning board for 24 years and he is currently the town's deputy supervisor.
Linda Kohler presented Hollenbeck with the award. Hollenbeck said he was “grateful” to receive the honor, but was surprised that he was the recipient.
“We do a lot of stuff because we care,” Hollenbeck said at the event. “When Linda called me and told me that I'm going to get this award, my first thought was, ‘I know they legalized it, but they must have been tripping that day.’ If you look at the names of the people that [were] mentioned tonight that are here, I really don't know if I should be in that crowd.”
Hollenbeck said he is a staunch Republican, supports the President Donald Trump's current policies to “get rid of waste, fraud and abuse,” opposes Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) in the party, and said he refuses to be dishonest in his political career.
“As far as the party goes, you want true Republican people that always vote Republican because of the values that we believe in,” Hollenbeck said. “I was surprised that I received the award, because my honesty sometimes isn't the best thing to have in the political world.”
Despite his initial hesitancy, Hollenbeck was touched to receive the award.
“I'm honored to get that,” he said. “After talking to people afterwards, I know I've done a lot but I didn't think I really was worthy of that. But they do, so I appreciate it, I truly do.”
