Wright City resident and wide-ranging volunteer Michael Baryo was named the 2020 Person of the Year at Strassenbash last Saturday.

Baryo, who tries not to draw much attention to himself, is involved in so many volunteer organizations that others in the community took notice anyway, said Wright City Chamber President Kim Arbuthnot.

Wright City’s Person of the Year is decided by a committee from the Wright City Area Chamber of Commerce. This year, Arbuthnot said Baryo rose to the top because of his frequent community involvement and bright attitude.

Baryo volunteers at the Wright City Community Food Pantry, the local library, schools, Strassenbash, park improvement days and Chamber events.

“You will never see this guy in a bad mood. He’s always smiling, and he’s always good for a corny joke,” Arbuthnot quipped. “He goes above and beyond to represent his community with integrity and pride. Most of his work goes unnoticed because he doesn’t advertise it, and he usually gives the credit to someone else.”

Baryo said he wasn’t expecting to be recognized for the things he does.

“I thought I was doing a good job of making sure people didn’t know what I was doing,” Baryo said. “I just wanted to try to help out my community as much as I could, because I love people and I love Wright City. I want to see this place become the best city that there is.”

Baryo began getting more involved in the community after departing his former job as a teacher in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. He currently works as a financial advisor, and said he’s been gradually joining more community services for the past three years.

Baryo said volunteerism has simply been a lifelong habit, and that his favorite work has been helping run a Wright City student chess club. Several of Baryo’s activities at the school district and Wright City library involve fun ways to engage children’s minds.

“I like people doing rigorous thinking, because that’s what’s going to help us have the best leaders for tomorrow,” Baryo commented.

Arbuthnot said Baryo has exhibited a selfless attitude, and has taken on tasks such as restaining park tables, which take a lot of work with little recognition.

“You could call this guy in the middle of the night, and say ‘Hey, we need you,’ and he’ll say ‘I’ll be there,’” Arbuthnot remarked. “He’s just that guy.”

Jenn Olivio, one of the members of the Person of the Year selection committee, described Baryo as one of the three nicest people she’s met in her life.

“What he does, he just does from a willing heart. He doesn’t do it for anything other than to help people,” Olivio said. “Anytime something needs to be volunteered for, he’s one of the first to ask what can be done.”