Retired Lee’s Summit attorney honored for years of altruism. Here’s what inspired him
When Carl Chinnery was an infant, his family endured a tragedy that took the life of his oldest brother and left Carl and his three other brothers seriously ill. It was summer 1942, and the Chinnery siblings were among thousands struck by polio, a life-threatening and crippling disease that mainly affected young children during the years before the vaccine’s introduction in 1955.
Motivated by his family’s heartbreaking experience, Chinnery committed much of his adult life to the elimination of polio, volunteering through Rotary International. He has given more than 300 presentations worldwide and was instrumental in the immunization of 160 million children during India’s National Immunization Day.
Based on Chinnery’s dedication to the eradication of polio, as well as countless other community-service efforts and legal work for nonprofits, the retired attorney was recently named 2023 Citizen of the Year by the cities of both Lee’s Summit and Lake Lotawana. He will be honored at Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Annual Citizen’s Reception in early September and at the organization’s Toast to Our Towns Gala on Sept. 23.
Chinnery recognizes the importance of local volunteerism and the ability of a person to directly improve the quality of life in a community.
“I just like to be involved and be around people,” Chinnery said. “I like to know what’s going on and be a part of it.”
A longtime Lake Lotawana resident, Chinnery established his private law practice in 1976, now known as Chinnery Evans & Nail, in Lee’s Summit. Early on he saw an opportunity to serve the community by providing free legal services to nonprofits, offering legal assistance to more than 130 nonprofits over the years.
Chinnery has also supported and served as a founding member of a number of local civic organizations. He has served as chairman of the Community Foundation of Lee’s Summit, Summit Bank of Kansas City, Missouri Yacht Club and the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lee’s Summit.
In addition, Chinnery is past president of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Board of Education, Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council. He has been chairman of the Planned Giving Committees for Eastland Community Foundation, Truman Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
In 1977, Chinnery joined Rotary International, going on to serve as district governor of District 6040 from 2002 to 2003, the same year he received the Rotary Presidential Citation. Within Rotary, Chinnery served as major donor advisor, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, endowment major gift advisor and Rotary International president’s representative. His efforts at the local level helped grow this group to the largest in Missouri.
In recognition of Chinnery’s commitment to eliminating polio, he received the District 6040 Humanitarian Award for Polio Eradication, the 2010 Regional Service Award for a Polio Free World and the International Service Award for a Polio Free World.
Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird praised Chinnery for his remarkable positive impact and dedication to helping others.
“I cannot think of anyone who demonstrates civic responsibility more than Carl,” Baird said. “Not only is he an accomplished business leader, but his contributions in time and talent to various nonprofits and organizations have made an indelible mark on our community.”
When considering his decades of involvement in community service, Chinnery said several particularly stand out.
“The founding of the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation was an important one,” he said. “I was really proud of that.”
The Citizen of the Year award honors exceptional citizens for their work and service to their community. The city of Lee’s summit has recognized Citizens of the Year since 1996.
