Flattery was presented the Catalyst Award during the alliance’s annual dinner at Fort Frenzy, 3232 First Ave. S.

“What an honor,” Flattery said upon coming to the stage to accept the honor.

He said he and his wife, Debbie, moved back to Fort Dodge 35 years ago to be close to their families and to be able to send their children to the local Catholic schools. Both of them were soon immersed in the community.

He urged everyone in the audience to find something that they care about and then get involved.

-Messenger photo by Brit Kudla
Dave Flattery of Fort Dodge gives his grandson Fitzpatrick Flattery, 1, and daughter-in-law Tori Flattery, of Des Moines, a hug after receiving the Fort Dodge Catalyst Award during the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance annual dinner on Thursday at Fort Frenzy.

“I ask you to go out and be passionate about something in your lives,” he said.

As always, the identity of the Catalyst Award winner was kept secret until it was presented. Without mentioning Flattery’s name until his very last sentence, Matt Johnson, a member of the Growth Alliance, introduced him with a speech that hit all the highlights of the winner’s community service.

“Tonight’s Catalyst Award winner is passionate about athletics, volunteering time as a coach, referee, a St. Edmond Athletic Booster Club member, a member of the Fort Dodge Rec Center planning committee,” Johnson said. “He also volunteers his time with the upkeep and maintenance of the St. Edmond Arena. Most notably, this individual spearheaded the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Development Group and was instrumental in developing the Mini Majors complex. Last year, this group was resurrected and is currently leading a renovation project at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex.”

“Additionally, he recently led a project to preserve the history of Floyd of Rosedale, the prized traveling trophy awarded annually to the winner of the University of Iowa and University of Minnesota football game,” Johnson added. “Despite the fact that he is indeed not a Hawkeye fan, he spearheaded the project that combines athletics, history and public art.”

Flattery’s past and present community involvement includes serving as:

-Messenger photo by Brit Kudla
Dave Flattery, a Fort Dodge councilman, wins the Catalyst Award during the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance annual dinner on Thursday inside Fort Frenzy.

• Vice president of the former Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Chairman of the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

• Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club member.

• Board member for both the United Way and Fort Dodge Community Foundation.

• Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation board member.

-Messenger photos by Britt Kudla
From left, John Hallgren, Linda Hallgren, Keely Gunderson, Mark Mettler and Phil Gunderson, all of Fort Dodge, make a toast to Phil’s birthday during the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance annual dinner on Thursday at Fort Frenzy.

• Development Corporation of Fort Dodge & Webster County board member.

• Ag, Retail and Primary Sector Committee member for the Growth Alliance.

• Community tour guide.

• Alliance Ambassador.

• Community & Family Resources board member.

• Co-chair of the Friends of the St. Edmond Ball.

• St. Edmond Catholic School board member.

Flattery served as an at-large member of the City Council from 2008 to 2011. Since 2012, he has represented Ward 3. In addition to representing his ward, Flattery serves as mayor pro tem, which means he presides over the council meetings and handles other mayoral duties when Mayor Matt Bemrich is not available.

He is a graduate of St. Edmond High School who earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Ames.

As an Iowa State graduate, Flattery has endured some good-natured ribbing about leading the effort to commemorate Floyd of Rosedale, which is a University of Iowa football tradition.

On Thursday night, Flattery turned toward the table where ISU football coach Matt Campell, the evening’s keynote speaker, was sitting and said, “That was a project that needed to be done and no Hawkeye would do it.”

Flattery is a member of Holy Trinity Parish, where he has served on the Spiritual Life and Welcome committees and on the design committee for the new church. He is also a musician and lector.

Flattery has also served on the Priests Pension Board for the Diocese of Sioux City and as a co-chair for the bishop’s dinner.

He is the president of Availa Bank in Fort Dodge. Johnson described him as “a dedicated businessman, serving as president in a bank that he led from the ground up.”

“Because of his leadership, the bank experienced success and growth resulting in a building expansion project a couple of years ago,” Johnson said.