MARK WAITE / PVT Dan Rodriguez, left, secretary of the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce board, presents the 2006 Community Service Award to Jack Reeves on stage during the recent Wild West Extravaganza. Advertisement

When Pahrump country singer Jack Reeves took the stage at the Wild West Extravaganza Sept. 22, he didn't expect to receive a reward as he began his set.

But Dan Rodriguez, secretary of the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors, handed Reeves a plaque honoring him as the recipient of the 2006 Community Service Award.

The community service award will become an annual award handed out to someone who benefits the community. Reeves became the first recipient.

Names of individuals to be nominated will be given by chamber members to the chamber of commerce board, which will decide the winner.

Reeves organized a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina at the Saddle West Hotel and Casino last fall. Rodriguez added that his own dad appreciates all the free shows Reeves put on at the Evergreen nursing home.

"That was very nice and I was totally unaware of it," Reeves said of the award. "It brought tears to my eyes."

Reeves then launched into his familiar medley at the Wild West Extravaganza, Nashville Saturday night, featuring hits by veteran country artists like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.

Reeves said he once put on a benefit in Gunnison, Colo., that raised $25,000 for a gospel singer with cancer.

"I told them, if you really need help, holler, because I have time to do it," Reeves said.

An Arkansas native, Reeves moved to California in 1957. In 1974 Reeves said he was named California country entertainer of the year. His career included 14 trips to Hawaii to perform for military shows and 22 trips to Alaska.

Reeves owned radio station KLUK in Laughlin when Jan Jensen, owner of the Stage Stop, persuaded Reeves to perform when the nightclub opened in 1992. He ended up staying.

Reeves recalled there were only about 7,000 people in Pahrump back then.

"I came for a week and the people were so nice in this little old valley; I just loved them. I stayed 14 months before I left," he said.

The 68-year-old has trimmed down his Pahrump appearances lately from the days he played the Stage Stop regularly. He won't appear at the Pahrump Fall Festival but will still put on occasional performances in town.