MEADVILLE, Pa. – April 17, 2009 – The “joy of life,” the theme of the 2009 annual meeting of the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, showed in the beaming faces of the nearly 200 community and business leaders who stood applauding as Ellie Davies was honored for her service to Meadville Thursday evening, April 16.
“We honor a person who has brought immeasurable joy to each of our lives; a person who by her example has inspired each of us to be better citizens of the world; by her example inspired each of us to be better and more loving spouses and parents; and by her example has inspired each of us to be better and truer friends to those around us,” said Allegheny College president James H. Mullen Jr., as he presented Davies with the Governor Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service.
As a result of Davies' personal service to the Davies Community Service Leaders Program, established in 2004 and funded by the Davies family in memory of Allegheny alumnus Lew Davies, Mullen explained that 55 Allegheny students have provided project-driven services to 15 local agencies. Among those projects is O.N.E. (Offering Nutrition to Everyone), a community-supported agriculture program that Davies initiated to bring local, sustainable foods to the Meadville community.
“I know Lew would be proud of continuing his legacy of community and college (together),” Davies said. “You have to use your energy for some kind of good. I love Meadville, have wonderful family and friends, my life is very enriched.”
Other capacities in which Davies has served the Meadville community include:
� serving as president of the Hospital Auxiliary and chairperson of the Charity Follies
� for 10 years participating weekly in Meals on Wheels
� organizing the D.O.V.E. volunteer program at the United Methodist Nursing Home (now Wesbury) and serving on the Intermediate Care Facility Expansion Program
� with her husband, Lew, running two successful United Way campaigns; heading the Advanced Gifts Division and, in 2006, being named honorary chairperson of the United Way
� supporting the Meadville Area Industrial Commission in 1968 by taking charge of the Speakers Bureau for the Industrial Drive
� serving as chairperson of the M.A.Y.B.E. committee that organized activities for Meadville's bicentennial
� serving a four-year term on the Meadville Area Recreation and Park Board at the time that the recreation complex was planned and built
� fund-raising actively for the Conneaut Lake Institute's Carousel Ball, the Crawford County Heritage Foundation, and the 2008 Block Party that benefited the Downtown Meadville Project.
About the Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service
Given to the citizen in our area who has made a beneficial impact on the quality of life in Crawford County
Governor Raymond Phillip Shafer was born March 5, 1917, in New Castle and was raised in Meadville. A graduate of Allegheny College, Shafer served as class president for his four years in college and was also extremely active in student activities. He then attended Yale Law School, graduating in 1941. He served in the United States Navy from 1942-1945, where he was awarded the Purple Star, among other honors. Shafer held the public office of district attorney in Crawford County beginning in 1948 and was elected to be a state senator in 1958. Eight years later, he was elected governor of Pennsylvania, serving his term from 1967-1971.
In his later years Shafer maintained his association with law firms in both Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania while continuing his life of public service. Shafer’s lasting impact on the Crawford County Area still resonates throughout the community. A section of Interstate 79, known as “The Raymond P. Shafer Highway,” serves as a reminder of his great efforts to expand and further develop the highway during his time as governor.
Previous recipients of the Governor Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service include: Richard J. Cook, Calvin Ernst, Charlotte Thomas, B.J. Smith, Richard Burkhardt, Paul Huber, Dr. Abe Finton, Ed Edinger, Pauline Mooney, Denny Watson, Dr. David Kirkpatrick, Clark Hoffman, Lew Davies, Jonathan Helmreich, Christine (Kit) Lang, the Rev. Arthur Crawford, Art Cocolin and Marie Hamilton.
The Award is presented by the Shafer Law Firm, Allegheny College and the Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce.
