BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Spanish Fort dentist Barry Booth clutched a photo of his mother as he walked to the Baldwin County Commission podium Feb. 1 to accept the “Citizen of the Year” award.

“I wanted my mama with me,” he said, holding up the black and white photo of a 17-year-old brunette taken in Georgia. “She raised three boys alone. She guided us and told us to always help others. I wanted to make my mama proud.”

He may be best known for spearheading the South Alabama chapter of Honor Flight, which transports World War II servicemen to Washington to view memorials in their honor. A dozen of them were in attendance.

Booth volunteered for military duty in 1967 as a dental officer, and received the U.S. Navy Unit commendation, and awards from the Republic of South Vietnam.

He serves on the USS Alabama Battleship Commission and helped establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the park. He supports ROTC programs on area campuses.

He has returned to Vietnam twice and visited other countries to provide free dental services. He and his staff also provided supplies and dental services in New Orleans and Gulfport Miss., after after Hurricane Katrina struck the coast.