By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Veteran of the Week

This column is the beginning of a new Shelby County Reporter series titled “Veteran of the Week.” Each week, a different veteran will be featured from war and peacetime military service, telling of their experiences as well as their lives after the military. Shelby County is blessed to have many patriotic veterans who have willingly served and sacrificed for our country’s freedom.

Lt. Col. R. Glenn Nivens is our first Veteran of the Week. Nivens enlisted as a private at age 17 in 1956 and retired May 1, 1986, as a lieutenant colonel after serving 29 years in the U. S. Army as an infantry commander in Germany, Korea, France and two tours in Vietnam. He is married to the former Linda Whitfield, and the Nivenses live in Harpersville.

Nivens was recently inducted as a permanent member of the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame at the Shelby County RSVP Volunteer Recognition Brunch at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Marvin Copes, Shelby County RSVP coordinator, presented Nivens with a Hall of Fame medal and certificate signed by Gov. Robert Bentley.

This is the highest award given by the Senior Hall of Fame, which was created by the Alabama State Legislature on July 28, 1983, to recognize citizens ages 50 and older who have contributed significant and extended service to older citizens.

Nivens is the founder of the Blue Star Salute Foundation, Inc. as well as its founding secretary and agent, positions he holds to this day.

He was awarded the Leo Thorsness Veteran Recognition Award by Boy Scouts of America and Distinguished Citizen Medal by Alabama Daughters of American Revolution.

He is current president of the Cahaba-Coosa Chapter Sons of the American Revolution, member of Support Committee of Alabama National Cemetery and Executive Committee of National Veteran’s Day in Birmingham.

Nivens recently drove the support SUV for 3,300 miles cross country for the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Ride4Gabe bicycle campaign supporting 9-year-old Gabe Griffin.

A man of boundless energy and deep integrity, Nivens has given his life to serve his country both as a career military soldier and in retirement.