G. Reynolds Clark built his life around serving others and his community.

Because of his dedication to Franklin Park Borough and the Pittsburgh community, Clark was named the 2008 Citizen of the Year by the readers of the North Journal.

"I always want to be mindful of those less fortunate," says Clark, of Franklin Park, "because so many of us have more than we ever could need ... maybe that's your time, maybe that's your talents and skills, maybe it comes down to dollars and cents."

What Clark had to offer his community was his time, and he didn't waste any of it. In the 30 years Clark has lived in Franklin Park, he has been more than generous volunteering his time and talents to the borough.

As soon as Clark and his family moved to Franklin Park, there was a knock on the door from Rev. Jack Parks, then pastor of Ingomar United Methodist Church and a family friend.

Since that day, Clark has been an active leader in the church, serving on boards and committees, and currently serving as the head usher.

For the past five years, Clark has served Franklin Park borough as the mayor, and he is an active volunteer firefighter with the Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company and only recently stepped down as fire chief after 18 years of service.

"The joke is I applied to be a member of the fire department before we signed on our house," Clark says with a laugh.

Franklin Park Borough Manager Ambrose Rocca says it is easy to work with Clark because he looks for input from other people to make the best decisions for the borough and admires Clark for his service.

"The word citizenship is the one word that best describes Renny Clark," Rocca says. "He is the ultimate citizen."

Earlier this year, the fire department honored Clark's service by naming him the first chief emeritus of the fire department.

During his time as the fire chief, Clark was responsible for purchasing three new trucks, refurbishing a tanker truck and maintaining the department's membership.

"Being a volunteer fire fighter you don't have time to take a committee vote," Clark says. "I always took great pride in that these guys chose me to be that guy (to lead them) when they go into a burning building."

Kermit Houser, of Franklin Park, first met Clark through the church and has known him for more than 20 years. Houser says if Clark ever decided to leave the North Hills, the borough would be losing a valuable member of the community.

"As mayor, as fire chief, he truly is an outstanding role model and pillar of the community," Houser says.

Clark retired from his position at Westinghouse Electrical Corporation after 34 years, and moved on to serve in the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh.

He currently is serving as the vice chancellor of community initiatives and chief of staff, and says he has no plans to retire.

However, Clark says his family is very important to him and he hopes to spend more time with his wife, Linda, two adult children, Paul and Sarah, and his two-year-old grandson, Milo, as he allows the next generation of leadership to take over.

No matter where Clark's life leads him, he knows his heart and time will be spent trying to make his local community better.

"I want to help rebuild Pittsburgh, to make Pittsburgh a better place," Clark says. "Pittsburgh is always going to be our home."