At its recent meeting, the Troy Exchange Club honored brothers, Carol and Danny Rhodes, with the Club’s Book of Golden Deeds, which recognizes individuals who have served their community faithfully but not received deserved recognition for it.

Well, good pickings in the year 2025.

Anyone who knows Carol and Danny Rhodes will say it was about time for the happy, fun-loving brothers to be recognized for their Golden Deeds.

It is said “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

Perhaps, whoever said that knew the Rhodes brothers who are always ready and available to lend a helping hand

This is a column of sorts so I would like to share a kindness shared.

Around about 20 years ago, WTBF-Radio was having a hamburger cook-off and the winners would be awarded a $50 prize.

At that time, my nephew was about 10 years old and loved hamburgers cooked on a grill. He wanted to enter the cookout. So, we made up a special marinade for our patties, gathered our grill and headed to the cookout. But, we arrived late. All the cooks were taking up their burgers while we were trying to light our fire.

Then, up came the Rhodes brothers and offered their hot grill. I resisted but they insisted. My nephew did the flipping and flopping on the brothers’ hot grill and the burgers were ready when the judges sampled our hot-of-the-grill burgers.

When it came time to announce the winner, to our surprise and, perhaps, to that of the others, our names were called. We were congratulated and awarded the $50 prize.  As hard as I tried, the Rhodes brothers refused to take the check and were thanked by a little boy with a great big, snaggled-tooth grin.

Thanks, Troy Exchange for recognizing Danny and Carol. They deserve it!

My “little” nephew, who now has little boys of his own, well remembers the Rhodes brothers as the “real” winners of the cook-off.

We wish them all the smiles and happiness they have brought to others.