BUCKHANNON – Longtime Upshur County resident Dave Waggy last week became one of a small group of community members to receive the city’s most coveted award – the Buckhannon Ambassador’s Award.
The Buckhannon Ambassador Award is the city’s highest honor, Buckhannon mayor David McCauley noted, as he read the proclamation tapping Waggy as the most recent recipient.
According to the proclamation declaring Friday, Nov. 22 Dave Waggy Day, Waggy has contributed a total of $2,500 to the city’s ongoing capital campaigns to restore the historic Colonial Theatre on Main Street and construct a new multi-purpose gymnasium/auditorium building that will be connected to the Stockert Youth & Community Center.
“To further memorialize Dave Waggy’s devotion to and affinity for our Buckhannon-Upshur community, I further now hereby bestow upon him, the Buckhannon Ambassador Award, becoming one of the very few recipients and honorees of this most prestigious award,” McCauley said.
In addition, the mayor noted Waggy has regularly attended and supported the annual Battle of the Bands fundraiser held annually in the Colonial Theatre and has recognized the importance of establishing a venue for arts of all genres for youth in the community.
Waggy previously served his country as the company commander of an aircraft maintenance company in Korea and is proud member of both the American Legion Post 7 and VFW 3663, McCauley said. Waggy retired from Corhart Refractories after 32 years in a management role.
Waggy’s name will be added to the Ambassador Bench – which honors those who have selflessly dedicated their lives to the service, promotion and advancement of Buckhannon – in front of SYCC. His name will also be added to the “Tree of Giving” in SYCC’s entrance and in the lobby of the Colonial Theatre.
Waggy had a few words of praise for McCauley, city council members and Create Buckhannon as he accepted his award.
“I’d like to thank you, city council and Create Buckhannon for your leadership and what you’ve done for the city,” he said. “When you drive through the town, you see it’s a beautiful city and you get a warm, welcoming feeling, and when you drive down Main Street, you can see it’s a progressive, vibrant community, and that shows good leadership.”
“That’s very nice of you to say,” McCauley replied. “I’ll be sure to share that with our city employees.”