Sweet Home’s Very Important People were honored Saturday by the Sweet Home Presidents Club during the 57th annual Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.
Mona Waibel, Alice Grovom, Bob Waibel and Robert Snyder made the presentations to Jesse Barr, Dennis Speck, Sylvia Stock, Richard Lillich, Mary Mansfield and Jim Melcher.
Barr is a descendant of a local pioneer family and has been an active volunteer since returning to the community. He is a trainer and facilitator with the Prostate Cancer Support Groups in Corvallis and Sweet Home. He delivers and sets up Lifeline units for the Lebanon Community Hospital. He assists with Meals on Wheels, the All-School Reunions and the East Linn Museum.
Dennis Speck is a steady, dedicated volunteer at the Senior Center. Speck helps with senior center raffles, and is a whiz when it comes to preparing meals for dozens of seniors several times each week.
Helping families put a roof over their head takes up much of Sylvia Stock’s time. Stock is active with Habitat For Humanity, plays piano for her three talented sons and sings regularly at Twin Oaks Care Center. She has been involved with Holt Adoption Foundation and is active at the Riverside Christian Church.
Richard Lillich is a history and genealogy buff who gives many hours each week to the Sweet Home Genealogical Society, of which he is president. He helps coordinate a two-day genealogy workshop and operate the Jerry Mealey Genealogy Library.
Mary Mansfield is capable of handling any difficult job. She is a former SHEDG president and has been a mainstay for the annual Oregon Jamboree.
Jim Melcher comes from an old-time logging family and is active in the Oregon Associated Loggers. He has helped with many charitable golf tournaments, and has donated countless dollars, hours and equipment to anything to do with the community’s young people including the construction of the Boys and Girls Club. He has coached local athletic teams, assists each year at the Oregon Jamboree and is active at St. Helen’s Catholic Church.