MEXICO — Eddy D. Naples, who routinely worked around his schedule to accommodate others, was named Mexico’s 2015 Citizen of the Year during the 13th annual Night of Appreciation on Thursday.
The presentation is a celebration by the town of Mexico to honor its employees, committee members, volunteers and members of the community for outstanding work and years of service.
A number of letters were submitted in support of Naples for the honor, including one that read, “For 30 years, he has been touching the lives of many students, families and teachers in this community and state throughout his teaching career, networking and daily efforts he happily provides in his work.”
Naples is known first and foremost as the instructor of the Region 9 Professional Truck Driving School.
One nomination letter stated that Naples is sensitive to all of his students and has a higher-than-average number of females enrolled in what is a non-traditional field for women. His efforts have filled many needs in the community for up-to-date training in response to constantly changing needs in the transportation field. He has contributed greatly to the material used in the manual for the CDL test and helped to develop the CDL Prep program.
Following the presentation, Naples said, “This was quite a surprise. Very humbling.”
He noted that his father, Enrico Naples Sr., received a similar honor years ago.
“That pretty neat,” he said.
Asked how many people he instructed to become truck drivers since 1983, Naples said about 3,000 — adding that he’s ready for another 3,000.
“It’s amazing to get up in the morning and go to a job that you love, giving people the opportunity to change their lives,” he said.
One nomination letter said that Naples, a 1968 graduate of Mexico High School, can routinely be seen driving the Region 9 flatbed for local events, such as high school homecomings, the Christmas in the Valley Parade, fundraisers, festivals and car shows. He has also photographed many weddings, baptisms, school functions, anniversaries and family functions, too.
Naples was selected as the Maine Vocational Association Teacher of the Year in 1992, and recognized with a Community Partners award in 2006 by Western Maine Community Action. He was named Cook of the Week in 2006 and was nominated for Maine Teacher of the Year in 2011.
Naples provided a truck for the River Valley Rotary Club and delivered a truckload of crutches, canes and walkers to McAllister Machine in Saco for any necessary repairs so they could be shipped to millions of needy people in Africa.
In between numerous ticket drawings for gifts donated by local businesses, Town Manager John Madigan, master of ceremonies, announced several other town awards.
The 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award went to the GRAMPS Food Pantry, whose many volunteers serve free lunch every Wednesday at the Mexico Town Hall.
The 2015 Full-time Employee of the Year is Lt. Dan Carrier of the Police Department.
“Dan is a very strong role model for our younger officers and reserve officers by teaching our officers the right way to be successful police officers,” Police Chief Roy Hodson said. “He is also a very strong role model for the community and our citizens, taking the time to listen to their complaints and needs to make sure their voices are not ignored.”
The 2015 Part-time Employee of the Year Award went to Seth Marshall of the Highway Department.
Lead Foreman John Blais said Marshall, the first graduate from the Mexico Police Explorers program and a volunteer firefighter, has been a wing tender during the winter season at the Highway Department for about nine years, since he graduated from high school.
“This employee does a good job at the highway garage,” Blais said. “He is not afraid to tackle anything. He always does whatever is asked of him to do. As a little guy, he was known as the ‘Granite Street Biker.’ He used to hang around the highway garage as a kid and followed the workers to their job site.”
Earning the 2015 Town Manager’s Award was Mike Chartier of the Fire Department. Madigan said Chartier helps with the Boy Scouts and the Hope Association, as well as performing tasks for the Highway Department, like shoveling and plowing sidewalks in the winter.
Mexico Board of Selectmen Chairman Richie Philbrick joined Rumford Board of Selectmen Chairman Brad Adley to present certificates to Dylan Desroches of Mexico and Cameron Godbois of Rumford, members of the 13-year-old Tri-County All-Star Team that went to the Babe Ruth World Series.
The Recreation Department 2015 Volunteer of the Year award went to sixth-grader Caden Welch, who spent five weeks of his summer vacation going to the recreation park every weekday morning, volunteering his time with raking, cleaning out dugouts and emptying the trash every morning, as well as helping maintain the field.
Years of Service Awards went to Assistant General Assistance Director Thelma Giberson, five years of service; Town Manager John Madigan, 10 years; police Chief Roy Hodsdon, 10 years; firefighter Paul Cayer, 15 years; Public Works employee Toby Duguay, 15 years; fire Chief Gary Wentzell, 25 years; and Public Works Foreman John Blais, 35 years.
Madigan named the most recent Boston Post Cane recipient, 100-year-old Ferdona Spaulding Young, who was unable to attend. She was born on May 7, 1915, in Solon.
Wayne McPherson, also known as “the Grill Doctor,” prepared the pork loin dinner served at the start of the event. Calvin Lyons helped with the beverages and Selectman Byron Ouellette donated water.
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