Celebrating 40 years of community outreach, Fort Carson last week named car dealer Mike Jorgensen the post’s “good neighbor” for 2018.

The annual award was first given in 1978 to honor one member of the community who has excelled in supporting soldiers. Jorgensen earned the title, which comes with a green sports coat, for backing military causes including the local branch of the Association of Defense Communities.

Fort Carson boss Maj. Gen. Randy George said Jorgensen “embodies the selfless and humble nature that makes a Fort Carson good neighbor.”

Jorgensen is co-owner of Red Noland Auto Group in Colorado Springs. A former chairman of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, he’s dedicated much of his life to community causes including the Fine Arts Center, Goodwill of Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.

The Association for Defense Communities effort spearheaded by Jorgensen saw Colorado Springs named as one of the nation’s friendliest cities for the military while raising awareness of the role the military plays in the Pikes Peak region.

“This is a really humbling experience,” Jorgensen said after getting the award.

Fort Carson leans heavily on the community to support troops and will do so even more in 2018, as thousands of Fort Carson troops join their deployed comrades in Afghanistan.

More than a dozen of the post’s “good neighbors” joined Jorgensen at the award ceremony.

Past recipients of Fort Carson’s good neighbor award include Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey and philanthropist Christian Anschutz.

Jorgensen said the green-jacketed group works together to make sure soldiers have what they have what they need.

“We ensure that as a community we are always watchful and caring for our good neighbors at Fort Carson,” he said.

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Contact Tom Roeder: 636-0240

Twitter: @xroederx