son, Dan Molter, were instrumental in beginning and maintaining the club and charting the direction and support the club has provided over the years. “Members of the Club exhibit a love of country, a respect for the law enforcement community and a willingness to promote those dedicating their lives to the protection of others,” Mills adds. ���������������������������������������� The concept for the Hundred Club was ��rst conceived in Detroit, Michigan, nearly 70 years ago. During that time, Detroit law enforcement of��cers and ��re��ghters were on full alert, dealing with violent social unrest that led to countless casualties. In the midst of the brutality, Detroit auto dealer Bill Packer decided he wanted to offer ��nancial assistance to the widow of one of these fallen police of��cers. In 1950, Packer wrote to 100 friends and associates and asked each of them to donate $100 to the cause. Their response was overwhelming. The group raised more than $7,800 for the police hero’s widow and her unborn child. Thus, the ��rst Hundred Club was born. Today there are more than 500 members in the Detroit area Hundred Club, and there are hundreds more of these clubs scattered across the country. ���������������������� �������������������������������� For nearly 40 years now, the 100 Club has gone above and beyond to honor Manatee County of��cers with everything from banquets to barbecues. “Our membership honors the county’s law enforcement agencies with a banquet each year,” Mills remarks. During these annual banquets, the 100 Club recognizes and celebrates one Of��cer of the Year from each of Manatee County’s nine law enforcement agencies. The Club then selects one of these nine officers as the 100 Club of Manatee County’s Of��cer of the Year. All of the of��cers nominated for the award have gone well beyond the call of duty to protect and serve Manatee County citizens. In 2017, Detective Juan Torres of the Bradenton Police Department won the prestigious award. “Detective Torres is known around the station not only for his hard work and his humility, but also his heroism,” Chief of Police Melanie Bevan wrote on the Bradenton Police Department’s Facebook page. “We could not think of a ��ner of��cer to receive this award and are incredibly proud of him.” In 2016, the 100 Club of Manatee County’s Of��cer of the Year award went to Tim Matthews, a Palmetto Police Department of��cer. Matthews was nominated for the award due to his incredible generosity and bravery on the job. Not only did Matthews save the life of a bleeding man, but he also replaced 86
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