The first time Daniel Wynn was asked to receive Lansford Alive's Black Diamond Award, he thought it would be better to go to his fellow volunteers at the Lansford Little League.

This year, the lifelong Lansford resident finally accepted it, but it took some prodding."He said, if there's no one else that you can find, I'll take it," Chris Ondrus, president of Lansford Alive's board, recalled as he presented the honor to Wynn Friday night.That's just how dedicated Wynn has been to the community.Members said he was more than deserving of the honor, given to a resident, organization or business who has provided continued service to the Lansford community.Best known as the borough's tax collector, Wynn's impact has gone far beyond that.Lansford Alive officials said that for decades, Wynn has been an invaluable resource who always has time for members of the community. He could answer any question - not just about taxes, but borough regulations or just what's going on in town.Lansford Alive vice president Bob Silver recalled how he would visit Wynn's tax collector office every morning before opening his family's furniture store for the day to discuss the latest issues in the town."He knows more about this community than anyone in the community," Silver said. "I used to think that I did."Several members of Lansford Little League were also in attendance to recognize his dedication to that organization. Wynn has been a part of the group for four decades, coaching, umpiring, and holding virtually every officer's position."If there was a job involved with Little League, at one time Danny probably had that position," Lansford Little League president John Rickert said.In his acceptance speech, Wynn singled out the volunteers who helped build the Little League, and keep it going today.He recalled how friends like Jay Gallagher, Donny Jones and John Stanko volunteered to do the backbreaking job of removing rocks from a patch of coal land to make the field."There were guys traveling maybe 40-50 miles one way to work, and then when they got home, they went right up to the Little League field and started swinging a pick or sledgehammer, carrying wheelbarrows full of rocks 75 yards, then dumping them down on an embankment," he said.One of them was sitting by his side, longtime friend Paul Staryk.He said this past year, the two were working at a Little League game when they got a strange look from a man who was with a visiting team."I said, 'Is there something a matter?' He said, 'I was here 30 years ago, and you guys were here then.' And I said, 'We came with the equipment,' " Wynn said, cracking up the audience.Wynn also thanked the members of the Italian Mutual Society, where he has been a member 46 years.He said that volunteering and serving the community "makes you a better person."Overall, he thanked all the Lansford residents who he has met over the years, whether it was through the tax office or just around town."You'll never see their picture in the paper, you'll never see them get an award, but they're wonderful people. And over 32 years, a lot of them have died unfortunately, but I remember them."