PORT ANGELES — They’ve spent large chunks of their lives quietly helping people and causes in need — simply because it was the right thing to do.
But on Friday, they spent the afternoon smack in the center of the spotlight for a change — honored for their volunteer work with the 2005 Clallam County Community Service Award as scores of friends, family and supporters cheered them.
Sponsored by the Peninsula Daily News and the Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Noon Club, the six honorees — Rose Crumb, Liz Zenonian-Waud, the Rev. Charles “Charlie” Mays, Gary Colley and the Rev. Mel Wilson and his wife, Kathy — received the framed awards honoring them for their years of service.
This is the 25th year for the community service awards, held at the Port Angeles Senior Center and hosted by John Brewer, PDN editor and publisher, and Ida McKeown, president of the Soroptimist noon club.
“These people are local heroes — inspirational in both spirit and deed, heroic in the most untrivalized sense of the word,” said Brewer at the start of the program.
“They deserve analysis — and imitation.
“They are role models for all of us, not only because they’ve aspired and dreamed — but because our local heroes’ achievements are within our own reach.”
The honorees were selected by a judging committee that included prior winners of the award.
More than 40 nominations were received from individuals, clubs, churches, businesses and other organizations for the 2005 award.
The Community Service Award honors the “dedication, sacrifice and accomplishments of community leaders and volunteers who have made a difference in Clallam County, who have made our communities a better place by doing extraordinary things for their neighbors, their community or the environment.”
Gary Colley
A Port Angeles attorney and longtime community volunteer, Colley is best known for his work with Pro Bono Lawyers as well as for helping to found the North Olympic Land Trust several years ago.
To date, the land trust has reserved more than 1,000 acres of land for preservation.
He has also been active on the Clallam County parks board, Port Angeles Citizens for Education, Boy Scouts, Kiwanis and Future Builders
“Gary Colley serves this community in a tireless yet very quiet and unassuming way,” wrote Cheryl Baumann, former head of Pro Bono Lawyers and now executive director of United Way of Clallam County.
Her letter was one of several nominating Colley for the recognition.
“Whether it be trying to prevent a family from becoming homeless, working to support our schools, or helping preserve land for future generations, he is truly a Clallam County hero.”
Baumann also called Colley “one of the most compassionate, sensitive, non-judgmental human beings that I have ever met in my life.”
Rose Crumb
One of the most well-known recipients of the award this year was Rose Crumb, founder and executive director of Hospice of Clallam County, a non-profit group that provides service to terminally ill patients and their families free of charge and without receiving any government subsidies.
Crumb, a registered nurse, began the hospice in 1978. It is funded solely on contributions and grants.
Crumb does not take a paycheck for her work.
“Rose is Clallam County’s rare bird — a creative, twinkle-eyed hugger,” wrote Ann Hairston, a volunteer at the hospice.
“[She] has been one of our most committed and genuinely helpful citizens [in Clallam County] for 25 years.”
Dr. Robert Witham, a cancer specialist in Port Angeles, wrote:
“I know personally that Rose has refused to receive compensation for many years of her work with hospice in order to make the organization more financially viable.”
When asked Friday why she has donated so much of her time for others, Rose answered:
“I don’t know — I love it. I get so many hugs all day, and you can’t put a price on hugs.”
Crumb has received many other local and national awards for her hospice work.
Charles “Charlie” Mays
The Rev. Charles “Charlie” Mays has been pastor for Holy Trinity Church in Port Angeles since 1988 — he is retiring at the end of this year to join family in Eastern Washington — and a leader of countless community committees and boards.
Mays’ wife, Sandy, accepted the award on her husband’s behalf because he was out of town at a national Lutheran conference.
Mays has devoted thousands of hours of unpaid volunteer service to United Way of Clallam County, Serenity House, Port Angeles Multicultural Task Force and Olympic Medical Center Ethics Committee.
“Unfortunately, Charlie does not brag, nor talk much about what he does in the community — he just does it,” wrote Norma Turner of Port Angeles in a letter nominating Mays for the award.
Turner’s letter was one of several nominations received for Mays.
“If we are fortunate,” wrote James D. Hallet in his nomination letter for Mays, “perhaps once in our life we will meet someone [like Mays] who blesses us so profoundly that this person must be a gift from God.”
Liz Zenonian-Waud
Since 1990, Zenonian-Ward has been the founder and co-director of Operation Uplift, a support group for cancer victims.
She was also a leader of the Valley Creek Estuary project for the Soroptimist noon club.
She also organizes the Celebration of Life After Cancer program, which gets women out into the world to do things they had never thought of doing — like biking, kayaking and river rafting.
“I am so humbled,” Zenonian-Ward said on Friday, echoing what was repeated by almost all of the afternoon’s honorees.
“This is kind of overwhelming in a good way.”
She said that her volunteer work has created tremendous benefits in her own life.
“I have met so many wonderful cancer survivors,” Zenonian-Ward said.
“Thanks to them, I wake up every morning, thank God for the day, and enjoy every minute.”
Mel and Kathy Wilson
The senior pastor of Joyce Bible Church, Mel Wilson, for years has volunteered his time to help community members in need.
His wife, Kathy, coordinates prayer chains, helps with the annual Joyce Daze festival and is a volunteer tutor who helps young students.
Both have been trained as emergency medical technicians.
The two “work side-by-side in compassionate caring for those in need . . . no task or request is insignificant to this dedicated couple . . .We have all learned much from their servant leadership qualities,” according to a nomination letter from Joyce-area resident Hannah Singhose.
“I’m quite surprised anybody notices what we do,” said Mel Wilson on Friday.
“We love people and want to help them.”
