Le Royan of the Year

Botts-Fiorito Post #576, American Legion, LeRoy, would like to announce with great pride and pleasure, Ed Henry as its selection for the 2021 “LeRoyan of the Year Award.” The award recognizes people who demonstrate the following qualifications and attributes:

• The man, woman, or child who exemplifies the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of the flag, and country, regardless of race, creed, or color.
• Good citizenship – by carrying out these principles, often beyond that expected of him or her.
• Service to the community – signified by excellence in the life of purpose and accomplishment.

Ed, a longtime resident of LeRoy, currently lives in Williamsville, NY with his wife, Karen. He’s a member of the LeRoy High School Class of 1976 and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education at nearby SUNY Brockport in 1980 and 1983, respectively.  Ed is now retired after 38 years at Eastman Kodak.

Ed started his long list of volunteering for the LeRoy Jr.-Sr. High School by doing Stats for the Varsity Football team, and started the Leroyfootball.com website.  Currently you can often see Ed at many sporting events of LeRoy Jr-Sr. High School photographing, from football, basketball, wrestling, softball, baseball, track, and cheerleading.  You can then find all those pictures on the “Le Roy Oatkan Knights Football” Facebook page (with some 850 members), the “Le Roy Oatkan Knights Basketball” Facebook page, and the “LeRoy N.Y. Then and Now” Facebook page (with some 6000 members), which he started and maintains.  Ed is also active with the LeRoy Sports Hall of Fame where he actively manages it website. 

Ed opened his a garage to athletes for off-season weight training, offering supervised lifting sessions 4 days a week.  He helped the athletes learn to stay on task, help one another, mature and give back to the LeRoy community. In seeing a need in the new weight room at school donated dumbbells, kettlebells, and standalone and safe modular equipment to the LeRoy Jr. Sr. High School to improve its weight room. 

Ed’s digital footprint is seen by thousands every time he posts positive stories, images, and videos of the high school students and community.

If you are wondering what Ed does in his spare time, he is very active working at the Machpelah Cemetery in LeRoy. He can be found March through November, cleaning the 25 acres of the cemetery, this involves leaf blowing, raking, pitchforking, weed-whacking, branch removal, and the subsequent dumping of this tremendous amount of debris. He has utilized family, friends, and high school athletes to help in these cleaning projects, teaching youngsters to show respect for the lost lives and to freely give back to the community. 

Ed is also a valued helper and supporter of the LeRoy Historical Society, busily scanning and shooting photos from the Society’s archives (LeRoy Gazette and LeRoy in 1940 collection) to create retro features to share with LeRoyans around the globe.

To honor Ed, the 52nd annual LeRoyan of the Year Award Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021. Social hour is at 6:00 PM with dinner served at 6:45 PM, at the American Legion at 53 West Main St, LeRoy.

A limited number of tickets will be available starting on Oct 1, 2021, at the American Legion after 4:00 PM, at Mickel’s Nickels at 80 Lake Street, LeRoy, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mon - Sat. or by calling Joan 585-721-7801. The cost is $25.00 per ticket (check or cash only).
 

• Sylvia lovingly raised a family of five children and has five grandchildren;
• She is a member of the Presbyterian Church for over 60 years; helps with fundraising projects for the church;
• She has volunteered for over 30 years with the Le Roy Ambulance Service, serving in various positions including base officer, driver, and medic, volunteering virtually every Monday evening;
• Sylvia is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as Treasurer of the Le Roy Pantry and Help Fund and continues to serve weekly maintaining inventory, receiving shipments and distributing foodstuff to those in need;
• Sylvia volunteers with the American Red Cross for Drives at the American Legion and the county Mega Drive;
• She is an active member of the Pavilion Young at Heart Seniors serving as the Greeter and Vice President; she is also the contact for the Genesee County Office of the Aging.

The "Le Royan of the Year" Recognition Banquet 
Saturday, Oct. 7th
Social hour: 6 p.m.
Dinner:  6:45 p.m.
at The American Legion, 53 W. Main St., Le Roy
Tickets: $20, available at the American Legion -- 768-2090

Press release:

The American Legion Post 576 Le Roy is seeking nominations for the 48th annual LeRoyan of the Year award. Deadline is Aug. 26th.

The Botts Fiorito Legion Post is asking that each club, church, society and organization submit an applicant to be considered as the 2016 Le Royan of the Year.

The Le Royan Award Program honors a man, woman or child who exemplifies: 

1.  The true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of flag and country regardless of race, color or creed. 

2.  Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond that expected of him or her.

3.  Service to the community, signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishments.

Applications for the award can be picked up at the American Legion Home.

Mail applications to: 
American Legion Post 576 
Attn:  Jerry Diskin 
53 W. Main St. Le Roy, NY 14482 

(Photo by Howard Owens; Bill Fox walking in yesterday's Labor Day parade in Oakfield.)

Press release:

The Le Roy American Legion, Botts-Fiorito Post #576, is proud to announce this year's selection for "LeRoyan of the Year" -- Mr. Bill Fox, a well-known local contractor, having maintained his business, "Bill Fox & Son, Construction and Remodeling, LLC" in the area for over 25 years.

Bill is married. He and his wife of 34 years, Anne, have three children, sons Bill Jr. "Billy," and his wife, Mady; Andrew, and daughter Marisa. Billy and Mady have two children, Farrah and Easton. 

An integral part of the community, Bill has devoted countless hours in support of local sports programs, participating when and where he could as his kids progressed through soccer, baseball and football.  He has lent his hand in contributing time and effort to school sports projects including such things as a new trophy case, after a  Section V championship.

He has been instrumental in organizing support groups to meet and "Welcome Back” veterans returning from "Honor Flights" from Washington, D.C., at the Rochester Airport. In addition, he has organized Christmas visits at the Veterans Administration Facility in Batavia and has sponsored ice cream socials there as well.

Bill has a strong interest in community awareness projects and leading educational programs involving hunting, hunter safety and animal awareness. He continues to instruct the DEC Hunter Safety program for youth; and has conducted numerous animal education programs for nursery schools and preschool children in the area.

One of Bill's strongest endeavors involves the "Shooters Committee on Political Education" or SCOPE. Bill has served as the Chapter chairperson for Genesee County for two years and was previously the secretary for three years. He continues to serve as the second vice-president of the New York State SCOPE organization.

Bill strongly believes in several essential principles, the Constitution and our God-given rights and his local community. In his own words: "Being an area businessman myself, I firmly believe that we should shop and do business locally. I am all for helping to keep businesses alive in Le Roy."

For these reasons, and many more we feel very pleased to present Mr. Bill Fox as the 2015 “LeRoyan of the Year," the 47th recipient of this prestigious Award.

Tickets for this year’s Award Dinner are available at the American Legion. Cost is $20 per person.

The Le Roy American Legion Botts Fiorito Post 576 is honoring Nancy Baker as the 46^th Le Royan of the Year. Nancy is the wife of Bruce Baker, the mother of Tom, Bill, Patti, Bob, John and Cindi. She has 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Nancy received her RN and bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester School of Nursing. The Bakers moved to Le Roy in 1963.

Nancy is a “people person,” genuinely interested in and concerned for her family, friends and anyone who might need a helping hand. One of the amazing things about Nancy is her energy. When she commits to something, you can rest assure she will give it her all.

Nancy served on the Le Roy School Board for 18 years including eight year as president of the Board. She is currently a member of the Woodward Memorial Library Board. She was one of the originators of the School Backpack Program.

Nancy has an extensive history of voluntarism and community involvement including the start up of FISH, Friends In Service Here, providing transportation for shopping and appointments; PTSO, Parent Teacher Service Organization to arrange for volunteers to help in the classroom; Community Intervention to assist teachers and parents to understand and help children suffering from alcohol and drug abuse. As a member of the Genesee County Medical Society Auxiliary she brought “Smoking Sam” to the classroom to make children aware of the perils of smoking.

She has served on numerous village, town and county committees including; The Le Roy Recreation Committee; the original Le Roy Community Pool Committee; the Screening Committee to hire a village administrator; The Countywide Stop DWI committee; and as a County Court observer.

For many years Nancy was on stage with the Le Roy Rotary Club musicals to raise money for the Milne Scholarships. As a member of the Le Roy Town and Country Garden Club she helps to maintain the plantings around the village welcome signs and Uptown plantings.

Her commitment as a member of St Mark’s Church reflects Nancy’s volunteerism and reliability. She has been a member of the Church Vestry; representative from St Mark's when LCCP was formed; representative from St Mark's to the Diocese; participant in the Mill Street Breakfast and Lunch programs; advisor to the Sunshine Nursery School; Sunday School teacher; numerous fund drives; and currently is a Lay Eucharist Minister bringing monthly communion to the Le Roy Village Green.

Honors Nancy Baker has received: Genesee County Woman of the Year (1988); Le Roy Woman’s Club Woman of the Month (1966); and Le Roy Rotary Club Paul Harris Award for her many years of community service.

Nancy Baker loves our town and is a very good friend to many. Her 51 years of selfless efforts on behalf of our community and the people in it are remarkable.

 Thank you Nancy Baker!

Press release:

The American Legion Botts Fiorito Post 576 announces Selby Davis as the recipient of the Americanism Award. This award is to recognize people who demonstrate the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of flag and country, regardless of race, color or creed. Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond that expected of him or her, also service to the community, signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishment.

Selby is the director and chef of Grace’s Kitchen. The purpose of the Kitchen is to provide a free dinner for the community one night a week, currently on Tuesday. It is a volunteer effort on her part, and is a great commitment to Shelby’s time, keeping her close to home all year long.

Many volunteers continually come forward to help in the kitchen and dining room, on a week-to-week basis. It was not difficult gathering volunteers: they come in great numbers -- a testament to the need that the Kitchen addresses. 

She has one donated freezer and uses her personal freezer for storage of frozen items purchased from Foodlink and those donated by local farmers and others. LCCP's office, located at the parsonage for the First Baptist Church, houses a pantry and one other room for the storage of dry goods for Grace's Kitchen. 

Selby has been the president, vice president and board secretary for LCCP. She also works at the Oatka Festival, the annual auction, and most other fundraising events LCCP holds. She is now a staff member.

Selby has served on the boards of the Ronald McDonald House, Jones Chemicals, and the Children’s Home Association (as president, VP, and secretary). She has served on the Women’s Initiatives Network of the YWCA, on The Fabulous Females Brunch committee for 11 years (one as chairperson), and also on the selection committee for the Fabulous Females Award. This award honors women who have served the community in a way that is true to the ideals of the YWCA.

Selby has also volunteered on the board of deacons and session of the First Presbyterian Church, for Our Lady of Mercy Parish, and currently serves on the vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Le Roy.

Selby has two sons Nicholas, 27, currently attending the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC Chapel Hill, N.C., and Jeffrey, 24, working in Arlington, Va. She was very involved in their upbringing -- attending all school and church events, hockey and basketball practices and games, and golf matches, and taking them on trips to see our wonderful United States of America.

She is the daughter of Frank Davis and the late Nancy Jones Davis. She also has a sister, Hannah Davis ,and three brothers, Ben, Hugh and Andrew.

Selby has a deep connection to Le Roy and a commitment to the needs of people in the community. She has the ability to address these needs with a combination of grace and humor she seeks to serve at every turn of her life and uses her many skills to initiate, organize and implement activities that will best serve her community.

She will be honored Oct. 12, at the American Legion Botts Fiorito Post 576, 53 W. Main St. Le Roy. For information contact The American Legion at 768-2090.