Page 42 2023 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 2023 “When I think about John, I always think about his generosity. Not just to me personally, but to the community as a whole. He has dedicated countless hours and resources to the community he loves. Whether it was serving the city as the most popular Mayor of my lifetime, serving his church, traveling to cheer on the Railers, or serving meals to the less fortunate, John has a tremendous heart for our community. “John has taught me a lot about what it means to give back and serve one’s community, and he has taught me countless other lessons that have helped me to become the man I am today. “I worked for John at the Illinois State Fair for many summers. I rode down to Springfield with John early and came home with him late every day. Those drives home were usually pretty quiet because we were worn out, but also there was a sense of accomplishment at the work we had done. That work taught me what it meant to work hard, but it also taught me about responsibility and accountability. I remember one evening after a long day working at the fair, a friend of mine that also worked with us and I decided to stay out late partying after we returned home from work. There were not many words exchanged between John and me the next day, but the message from the boss man was clear: ‘You committed to working and no special treatment is going to be given just because you made a poor decision’. As I have gotten older and taken more notice, John’s generosity, love of his community, and his faith have all become even more apparent to me. John has a gift for evangelism, but he does not just talk the talk. He lives his life in a way that aligns with his values and his belief in Christ. His life is a testament that there is most certainly good in this world, and our community continues to be blessed by him. I am very proud to call him my friend.” Blinn Bates Woods & Bates, P.C. Now, John really doesn’t know much about this nomination to be one of the Lincoln Daily News’ 2023 Hometown Heroes. We hope he isn’t aggravated with LDN for bringing him into the spotlight. The reason we say this, is that topping off Johns remarkable character is his humility. You see, we at LDN also know John pretty well. He will tell you that he is no hero, instead he is a man who has been blessed by God and given a loving family he is proud of, friends that support him as much as he supports them, and the wonderful ability to be able to help when help is needed. He will give all the glory to God for the life he has experienced, the joys he has known, and the hardships he has endured. He will tell you that no man is capable of doing anything without God blessing it and making it so. For those of us who know John Guzzardo, that is just one more aspect of what makes him a hero in our eyes and in the hearts of all those who know and love him. Thank you John, for being you, just the way you are.
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