Tonight we are honoring Shirley Muther, who is the essence of what the Richard P. Melick Award is about. I say this because Shirley has richly served our town for over fifty years in a myriad of ways in a quiet, modest mode without fanfare or seeking much deserved recognition. Let me describe this long and solid record of service. We can start at the Needham Public Library, where for over fifteen years Shirley repaired books, helped at the book sales and put books on the shelves.

From there we move to the Congregational Church of Needham, where she taught in the Church Nursery School for 20 years and served the church for many years as a Deaconess, a Sunday school teacher, an Altar Guild member, a Memorials and Special Gifts Committee representative, a 20 year Flower Committee participant, and a long time leader on the Reception Committee, which provides food at weddings and funerals.

And it doesn’t stop at the Church. Shirley served six years helping to run the local girl scouts. She was an enthusiastic member of the Booster Club and has served as a volunteer at the Walker Home for fifteen years.

There’s more. Shirley has worked fifteen years as a warden at the polls, and, with her husband, Bob, helped Meals on Wheels succeed. She also worked tirelessly for our Needham Schools at PTC and Broadmeadow Sports Night, ran the School Family Fun Night and helped at the Broadmeadow Library.

As you can see, Shirley’s generosity with her time and effort has touched nearly every one of us, and still she managed to raise four wonderful children, leading to eight perfect grandchildren – just like her.

What a thrill it is to see such a deserving person and friend of fifty years receive the Richard P. Melick Award!