Madison Rotary names Bennett Veteran of the Year

Max Bennett, left, with Rotary Club of Madison President Steve Croomes at the Club’s meeting Nov. 13, where Croomes awarded Bennett with the 2014 Veteran of the Year on behalf of the Club. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Madison resident and 22-year Army veteran Max Bennett has another award to add to his impressive resume with his being named the 2014 Rotary Club of Madison Veteran of the Year.

Bennett was recognized at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Veteran’s Breakfast at the Von Braun Center Nov. 11 and the Rotary Club’s meeting on Nov. 13.

“I have never been recognized before by Madison, so it was nice that they honored me,” Bennett said.

Bennett works as a training manager with General Dynamics in Huntsville. He served as Chairman of the 2014 Huntsville – Madison County Veterans Week Planning Commission and is a vice president of the AUSA Redstone – Huntsville Chapter.

“I’m drive to this because I recognized the need to serve Army veterans,” he said. “It’s certainly nice to be honored like this, but I love doing it.”

Bennett joined the army in 1985 out of Indianapolis, Ind. He served overseas in Turkey with NATO as a calibrator in 1991 before being named a Warrant Officer the same year. Other overseas assignments include stints in Saudi Arabia and Korea.

Steve Croomes, president of the Rotary Club of Madison, presented the award to Bennett on Tuesday and Thursday.

“The Rotary Club of Madison, along with a grateful nation, is proud to present you with the Veteran of the Year Award,” Croomes said on Tuesday.

Bennett has been involved with the United States Army Warrant Oficer Association (USAWOA) since 1993 and was the recipient of the 2012 USAWOA Don Hess Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also named the 2009 North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organization Coalition (NAVFOC) Veteran of the Year.

Max and Nese have three children. Their oldest, Shannon, is a paralegal in Indianapolis and the younger two are still continuing their higher education.