18th Quarter Century Award Recipient
This years recipient for 2007
Mike Beaumont
Sunday, November 11th - 3:00 - 4:30 PM
The Westwood Historical Society is proud to announce that Mike Beaumont is the 2007 recipient of the Quarter Century Award.
Mike has a long and distinguished history of community service. In 1987 he became a member of the Finance Commission. During his tenure he served as both Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Commission and was responsible for consolidating town services to significantly reduce municipal and school expenses.
Mike served as Chairman of the Department of Public Works (DPW) Study Committee in 1991-92. He authored special legislation to create the Department of Public Works and served on the Search Committee to find the Department's first Director.
In 1992 Mike was elected to the Board of Selectmen and served two consecutive terms, finishing in 1998. In 1993 and again in 1996 he was Chairman of the Board. In 1993 he established the Business Advisory Board to promote corporate investment in the town and to address issues associated with the University Avenue Industrial Park. He was successful in bringing NSTAR to Westwood, which resulted in an additional $1,000,000 in tax revenues for the town.
Another important initiative of the Business Advisory Board was the revitalization of Washington Street. Mike worked closely with business owners; the Islington Betterment Committee and local residents to plan safety improvements and to beautify he area.
Mike oversaw the construction of two affordable housing projects, created an Affordable Housing Fund by collecting a fee from the sale of market homes in the Chase Estates project and was instrumental in creating the Westwood Senior Center.
In addition to his public service activities Mike has served as Treasurer and Moderator of the Islington Community Church, President of the Norfolk Golf Club, President of the Westwood Rotary Club and a member of the Board of the Westwood Educational Foundation.
For the past ten years Mike has coached the Westwood High School Girls Varsity Hockey Team. As a coach Mike valued character development over the win and loss record. His priority was "to install discipline, a sense of responsibility and a commitment to service in his players." After attending the national Hobey Baker Award ceremony (which recognizes the best college hockey player in the US) Mike was most impressed with the wards given to athletes who performed humanitarian and community service. He implemented a similar program for his Westwood High Girls by recognizing players who contributed to the community.
Mike credits his parents for his interest in community service. Both Mike's parents are lifelong residents of Westwood. In fact, his Mother was a member of the first graduating class of Westwood High School. His father-in-law John Patterson was also very involved in the Westwood Rotary Club.
Mike was born and raised in Islington. He graduated from Westwood High School and the University of Maryland. He worked for the Security Department of the U.S. Army and the National Security Agency before returning to Westwood to become Director of Patterson Insurance Agency.
Please join us in celebrating Mike Beaumont's career and accomplishments on Sunday, November 11th at 3:00 pm at the Fisher School.
The Westwood Historical Society invites residents and friends to this very special event. Refreshments will be served. Please park along the Thurston Middle School drive.
The Quarter Century Award is the Historical Society's annual honorary award presented to a Westwood resident or couple of twenty-five years who has made an outstanding contribution to the community. His or her contribution to a better Westwood could be in any field, including education, religion, arts, civic or social service.
The Westwood Historical Society invites residents and friends to this very special event. Refreshments will be served. Please park along the Thurston Middle School drive.
Previous recipients of the honorary tribute are (chronologically beginning in 1990): Yetta and Alexander Fisher, Barbara and Allan Beale, Donald MacLellan, Allen Baker, Richard Youlden, Ellie and Roy London, Lillian Perkins, Robert Wood, Gordon Youlden, Tom Dunn, Joseph Weider, Emlen and Jim Wheeler, Duncan and Ellen McFarland, Shirley Howard, Joy & Joe Clancy and Ralph and Irene Buonopane, Barbara Friedman.
If you would like to nominate someone, please write a brief letter outlining how the nominee has contributed to the Westwood community and mail it to the Westwood Historical Society at P.O. Box 2575, Westwood MA 02090 no later than September 24, 2008.
