Dr. Kathy Gregg, BEST Awardee for July of 2019

David McCauley, Mayor of Buckhannon, and Dr. Kathy Gregg, Nature Park & Learning Trail Curator and Professor Emerita of Biology at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Buckhannon resolved during its regular meeting of October 18, 2018, to honor residents of our Buckhannon-Upshur community who perform extraordinary service while embracing the kind & giving spirit of volunteerism; and,

WHEREAS, Buckhannon has long championed community service & has recognized persons who have given selflessly for the benefit of our City’s Fire Department, Stockert Youth & Community Center, & Police Department, but had not until recently- formally recognized others who generally perform many other acts of service & kindness; and,

WHEREAS, with the 2018 establishment of our Buckhannon Volunteer Center, the City deemed it to be reasonable & appropriate to henceforth recognize our community’s most giving volunteers with previous honorees of the Buckhannon Exemplary Service Testimonial (BEST) Award being Amanda Hayes, Zachary Mutchler, Robin Keough, Shirley Tinney, Bill Nicholson, Dr. Joseph Reed, Dr. Paul Richter, April Keating, & Brad & Kim Lincecome.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID W. McCAULEY, as MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUCKHANNON, pursuant to the power & authority duly vested in me, do hereby proclaim as our City’s 10th recipient of our Buckhannon Exemplary Service Testimonial (BEST) Award for July of 2019 to be DR. KATHY GREGG who is Professor Emerita at WV Wesleyan College & is the primary founder of & single biggest contributor to Buckhannon’s Nature Park & Learning Trail that abuts Buckhannon’s Poundstone River Walk Trial. She was a charter member & organizer of the West Virginia Group of the Sierra Club in 1977, & in 1984 served as the WV Chapter’s first Chair. DR. GREGG has held various offices with the Sierra Club regionally & nationally. Her work with orchid conservation throughout West Virginia is legendary. She has served as Chair of the Wesleyan Landscape Committee since its inception in 2007, & further is a member of our City’s Landscape Committee. Simply stated, there is no greater conservator & protector of our environment than DR. KATHY GREGG who has helped us all in our B-U community to be better & happier in many ways. I direct the establishment of our City’s new BEST bench & installation of a permanent placard in Jawbone Park to forever honor & recognize DR. KATHY GREGG & all past & future honorees of our City’s BEST award.

I further urge all residents to join our City’s most honored guest, DR. KATHY GREGG, her husband Carl, her friends & admirers, & me, along with all members of our City government family during our public ceremony to be conducted at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2019 as we honor our City’s 10th recipient of our BEST award. We all wish DR. GREGG the best as she continues to work hard for our B-U community. May every resident be mindful of the importance of community service & giving of one’s self & be inspired to give selflessly for the benefit of others as we pay tribute to the many substantial contributions of our exceptional volunteers including the 10th recipient of our City’s BEST Award, DR. KATHY GREGG

Given under my hand & official seal of The City of Buckhannon this 18th day of July, 2019.

David W. McCauley, Mayor