JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. –Joint Base Lewis-McChord recognized two key Puget Sound partners April 1 at Eagle’s Pride Golf Course, DuPont, during the Civilian Hall of Fame, Lt. Gen. William H. Harrison Service Award, Induction Ceremony.
The inductees included Donna Handoe, executive director of Santa’s Castle at JBLM, and W. George Cargill, president of the Pierce Military and Business Alliance and vice president of the Air and Space Forces Association McChord Field Chapter. Each of them received a certificate of appreciation, medal, pin, trophy and blazer from I Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane and I Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Reffeor.
“Donna and George, tonight we honor your purpose,” McFarlane said. “Your selfless service reflects the very best of what it means to be part of this community. You remind us that strength at JBLM isn’t just in our formations — it’s in the people who choose to stand in those formations and alongside those formations, like you guys have.”
Handoe helped expand the reach of Santa’s Castle, a private, nonprofit organization with a mission “to ease holiday stress by providing new toys, board games and books to active military families in Washington who are experiencing financial hardships,” according to its website.
“In 2023, Santa’s Castle supported more than 1,000 military families and provided gifts to 2,311 children, representing $386,681 in donated items,” Handoe’s biography says. “In 2024, that support nearly doubled, serving 1,913 service members and bringing holiday cheer to 4,040 children with more than $791,000 in gifts distributed.”
“Serving the military community is something very special,” Handoe said. “The military is a family – a family I was blessed to marry into 35 years ago. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to play even a small role in helping ensure our service members and their families experience joy, comfort and a sense of normalcy, especially during the holiday season.”
Handoe has also assisted with the growth of programs that provide military children with backpacks and school supplies.
“Donna, your compassion, your leadership have touched more families than you will ever meet or know,” McFarlane said. “You’ve built a community of hope, and we’re eternally grateful.”
Cargill, a former military child and airman for 26 years who retired at JBLM, participates in nonprofits that support the base community in addition to leading organizations that support the military. He has been a leader in the Association of the United States Army, Military Officers Association of America, United Service Organizations and the Navy League of the United States.
“He’s coordinated hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for JBLM,” McFarlane said. “That support has funded nursing education, specialized health care, filled essential needs for military families. His work ensures that when our service members and families need help, the community is already there.”
While on the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce Board, Cargill was director for trade and commerce, “and contributed to the Military Affairs Committee, helping elevate recognition for local service members,” according to his biography.
Additionally, Cargill was Washington director of programs for Operation Homefront and a member of the Board of the Washington National Guard Youth Challenge Academy Foundation. He also provided guidance on initiatives supporting service members, veterans and their families to the University of Washington Tacoma Advisory Board.
“George’s resume of service is long, but here’s what stands out to me about George: He’s a connector — someone who sees a need and brings people together to solve problems,” McFarlane said. “Your dedication, your advocacy, your relentless support have strengthened this installation in ways that will last for generations. Thank you.”
Cargill used to find it awkward to respond when someone said, “Thank you for your service,” but he eventually decided to say, “Thank you for being someone I can serve.”
“This recognition is a thank you for what I do, but really, it’s a return of me saying, ‘Thank you for allowing me to support our great American heroes and being someone I can serve,’” Cargill said. “So, thank you very much.”
The JBLM Civilian Hall of Fame Lt. Gen.William H. Harrison Service Award was established in 2003, and its first members were inducted in 2004. It recognizes outstanding civilian community members who have contributed to and made an impact on service members, their families and the JBLM community.
Formerly known as the JBLM Civilian Hall of Fame, the recognition’s name was changed in 2015 to the Civilian Hall of Fame Lt. Gen. William H. Harrison Service Award to recognize Harrison, a former I Corps commanding general. A 2005 Civilian Hall of Fame inductee, he was the first mayor of Lakewood.
To read more about previous inductees, visit [https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord/about/civilian-hall-fame](https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord/about/civilian-hall-fame).