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Randy Nicol and his wife, Sheri, joined the Golden K Kiwanis Club after moving to Albert Lea, and Randy has served in numerous leadership positions, including as treasurer, vice president and president. He is currently the vice president for the second time and is slated to become president again. Here, at left, he presents a donation from the club. Provided

Nicol organized putting his used — but still in good condition — siding on a friend’s home in need with the help of some other friends. Provided

Randy Nicol and fellow Albert Lean John Holt stand with other children they met on a mission trip. Provided

Randy Nicol and his wife, Sheri, hand out bibles while on one of their mission trips. Provided

Nicol headed up the roofing project at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea last summer. Provided

Nicol and some of the others from First Lutheran Church pose for a photo on top of the church during the roofing project last summer. Provided

When Randy Nicol and his wife, Sheri, bought their property in Albert Lea in 2015 and moved there in 2016, they didn’t know a soul in the community.

He said they felt like the Lord sent them here, as it was between their children in Des Moines and Minneapolis. Once they settled in, they quickly got to work, finding opportunities to get involved and pay it forward.

“I was a self-employed businessman and I didn’t have a whole lot of time for volunteering,” he said of his life before coming to Albert Lea. “I decided when I retired that’s what I was going to do was give back because I didn’t have a lot of time for that when I was working.”

And that’s exactly what he has done. In the time they have been in Albert Lea, Nicol and his wife have both gotten involved in numerous efforts, both on the local and global levels.

Nicol is an active member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club, serving in leadership positions most of his time here. He is a member of the Gideons, helping distribute Bibles at various locations. He is heavily involved with his church, First Lutheran, and has given his time and talents to support Youth for Christ, St. John’s Lutheran Community and others efforts. For his numerous endeavors, Nicol is recognized as the Tribune’s 2025 Citizen of the Year.

“I just try to be out there, be available, and hope people know that I’m a servant, that’s what I want to be,” he said. “I want to be a servant to others. I think God has blessed me with a talent to do some of that stuff, and I’m not afraid to get up and help other people when I can.”

Since becoming a part of the Golden K club, Nicol has served as vice president, president and treasurer and now is vice president a second time and in line to become president again.

He said he enjoys being part of the club. They sing and tell jokes and get to hear from a variety of organizations. It also gives him the opportunity to serve the children of the community through efforts like reading in the schools.

Nicol has also been in charge of one of the club’s big fundraisers each year — organizing golf cart drivers to give people rides who need them at the Freeborn County Fair.

He said during the fair they have three carts running from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day, with probably over 100 drivers during the course of the week.

Nicol has been a Gideon since 2012 and is the current president of the local group. He previously served as secretary for eight years. The group hands out Bibles at places like the fair, at hospitals, nursing homes and the jail.

“Whenever I go onto a mission trip, I always take Gideon Bibles with me,” he said. He estimated he gives out between 60 and 80 Bibles per year.

The organization aims to be an extension of other churches’ outreach ministries.

Nicol said he grew up Methodist but became a Lutheran after marrying his wife.

“I’ve always had a faith, and I think it’s important, especially in today’s world that faith is important and having God in your life is important,” he said. “There’s a lot of people out there that have never heard of Jesus and God.”

He referenced a scripture in Romans 10:14, and the importance of spreading the Word to others.

“It’s important to me because God has been very generous and blessed me in many ways,” he said. “I need or hope to be a blessing to others.”

When they first came to town, he said they were invited to attend First Lutheran Church. He said Norm and Joyce Fredin latched on and became members, and they have stayed ever since.

Serving on the church’s property committee, he has been a part of several big projects.

With his background in lighting and design and controls, the church updated all of its lighting to LEDs.

This last summer, the roof on the church was redone, and Nicol said he went out and got bids and worked with the contractor throughout the course of the project.

He also helps out in other ways at the church, whether it be at the weekly community meal or reading at the service.

He and his wife also got to know Robin and Greg Gudal of Youth for Christ, and they call him periodically when there is a project they need extra help on, such as the Wilderness Prayer Center. They also donate food or snacks as needed.

With St. John’s, Nicol was on the board for six years, serving as treasurer, vice president and president. This year and last, he has served on the St. John’s foundation board, which oversees any memorials or donations that come in that are not designated.

In all of his efforts, Nicol said he has been inspired by his wife, Sheri.

“Behind every successful man, there’s a good woman, one that helps us know what to do,” he said. “She is my inspiration on a lot of things. She has lots and lots of ideas on how to help.”

This last summer, the Nicols had hail damage on a portion of their home. He said it was only on one side and was minimal, but their siding had been discontinued. Their insurance company agreed to pay for all new siding.

He said he felt bad that all of their perfectly good siding was going to the landfill, and one day he felt inspired to donate that siding to a fellow Gideon, whose house was in need. The Gideon agreed, and Nicol began organizing a team to install it.

He said God answered his prayers and connected him with Roger Johnson, who moved to town a few years ago and who knew how to install siding. He also called a couple of his other Kiwanis friends, his Gideon friends and some church friends, and they had a team of seven men for the project.

When all was said and done, they have put in about 360 hours, and they’re still finishing the project this year.

“I get such joy out of going out and helping people,” he said. “It’s more of a blessing to me than it is to them sometimes.

“God speaks to us if we listen. We just have to say yes. We have to recognize it as God pushing us to do something.”

In addition to his local efforts, Nicol has gone on several mission trips, continuing to share his talents with others there, too.

Nominations for 2025 Citizen of the Year
Mary Diggins
Watsana Thiravong
Alice “Penny”Jacobson
Sarah Stultz
Randy Nicol

Prior Citizens of the Year
Holly Babcock
Norm Fredin
Brad Arends
Johanna Thomas/Eileen Woyen
Cindy Gandrud
Darryl Meyer
Century Partners

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