BUCKHANNON — Retiring Upshur County Commissioner Troy A. “Buddy” Brady might be only one man, but on Thursday, he was honored by two governmental entities.

Brady, who will wrap up his six-year term as county commissioner on Dec. 31, was declared just the second-ever special Service to Youth champion by Buckhannon mayor David McCauley in recognition of his efforts to raise funds for the Stockert Youth and Community Center’s new gymnasium/multi-purpose addition.

In addition, the Upshur County Commission through proclamation declared Dec. 31,2018 to be a “Day of Giving” throughout Upshur County. The proclamation states the day was designated as such to honor Brady for his 42-and-a-half years of public service in law enforcement and as a county commissioner.

The dual ceremonies and a luncheon in Brady’s honor took place Thursday at noon in the commission’s meeting room.

The commission’s proclamation noted that Brady has served as a county commissioner for the past six years and on various public boards, including the SYCC Board of Directors. Not only was Brady the first person to make a donation to the SYCC’s recently renewed capital campaign, he was also instrumental in securing a $20,000 donation to SYCC from Buckhannon Toyota — the largest ever to any city entity.

Commission president Sam Nolte and commissioner Terry Cutright each donated $500 to the SYCC’s capital campaign, which endeavors to raise $400,000 for the purpose of constructing a multi-use gymnasium/auditorium addition.

According to the commission’s proclamation, the Day of Giving was established for the purpose of encouraging residents to make a donation to an organization of their choice on Dec. 31, “with special consideration to Stockert Youth and Community Center for purposes of making their dreams to build a new gymnasium a reality.”

The city’s proclamation noted that although the Service to Youth Champion honor is traditionally given in May of each year during the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, the city would, “for only the second time” award a special Service to Youth Champion recognition to Brady “for his compassionate service and contributions to the youth of our community.”

“Since our renewed capital campaign to realize the new SYCC multi-use facility was launched in December of 2017, our SYCC Board has raised another $100,000, with no Board member being more responsible for the tremendous financial success of the renewed campaign than Commissioner Brady,” the city’s proclamation notes.

Thursday, Dec. 6, was declared a “Service to Youth Day” in Brady’s honor throughout Buckhannon.

“May every resident aspire to being passionate about service to our youth just like our very special recipient and award winner who we now honor and pay tribute to Troy ‘Buddy’ Brady, who shall in perpetuity be recognized on the Service to Youth Champions’ bench located in front of our Stockert Youth & Community Center,” the proclamation states.

On Thursday night, Buckhannon City Council on second and final reading approved an ordinance increasing the number of SYCC Board members from 10 to 11, enabling Brady to continue to serve on the board beyond his retirement date as a commissioner.