But the 64-year-old Milton dentist enjoyed chairing the New Zealand Life Education Trust so much, he stayed in the position for 10 years and gave another three years of his life as a trustee for the organisation.
His contribution was rewarded yesterday with a life membership to the organisation during a celebration luncheon in Waihola with members of the Heartland Otago Southland Life Education Trust.
The award was presented by the trust's founder and director Trevor Grice, who described Mr Wilton as an inspirational leader who quietly carved a successful path for the trust.
Each year, the non-profit organisation teaches 225,000 primary and intermediate schoolchildren about the wonder of life, themselves and others, aiming to show them how to reach their full potential.
Mr Wilton said he was "incredibly humbled" by the life membership award.
"When things got tough, I just remembered the good that our work does for the children, and that helped keep me going.
"There were so many amazing people to work with.
"You do the work and you get things going. I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
"I certainly didn't expect any reward for it. It's blown me away," he said.
Mr Grice also presented service awards to Don Waugh (Balclutha), Bill Thomson (Balclutha) and Jeanette McIntyre (Gore).
Mr Waugh was a Heartland Otago Southland Life Education Trust foundation trustee and has been a schools' co-ordinator for the past 13 years; Mr Thomson has successfully guided the finances and sponsorship of the trust since it was established in 1998; and Mrs McIntyre's knowledge, excellent service and ability was instrumental to the progress of the trust.
Mr Grice has been in education for more than 30 years and has lectured at the New Zealand Police College, secondary schools, tertiary institutions and international forums including the British House of Commons and the World Health Organisation in New York.
He is also co-author of The Great Brain Robbery - a bestseller which describes the negative impact of drugs on the maturing brain.
He will speak to pupils, teachers and parents at Blue Mountain College today about the evolving brain.
He will also address a public meeting at the school library this evening.
