Each year, Senior Services presents the Everett N. Luce Award to an individual and an organization for their leadership and contributions toward improving the quality of life for older adults in Midland County. This year’s award recipients were announced during Senior Services’ Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Jim Gall received the Individual Community Champion Award and the Midland City Garage received the Organization Community Champion Award.
Dr. Everett Luce spearheaded the development of Midland County’s organized efforts to provide for the needs of older citizens, especially those in failing health or in impoverished circumstances. He led the team of local leaders who attended the first White House Conference on Aging in 1960. Returning with the determination to make a real difference in the quality of life for seniors, Dr. Luce and his colleagues established the Midland County Committee on Aging. Under his leadership, within a few years, the committee was incorporated as the Midland County Council on Aging (known as Senior Services), launching the organization that now serves 2,500+ county seniors a year.
Jim Gall (right), owner of Right at Home and chair of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee, received the Individual Community Champion Award from Charlie Schwedler, Executive Director (left).
Senior Services has chosen Jim Gall, owner of Right at Home and chair of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee, for the Individual Community Champion Award. Jim is being recognized for the leadership roles that he has taken in the community supporting older adults. Jim has been serving and fundraising for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee for over five years, as well as providing community education to caregivers with his business, Right at Home.
Charlie Schwedler, Executive Director (left), with Midland City Garage – (from left) Karen Murphy, Lance Hopper and Patrick Huber accepting the Organization Community Champion Award.
The Midland City Garage has been chosen to receive the Organization Community Champion Award for its continued partnership with Senior Services to provide preventative maintenance, inspections, and repairs to our fleet of Transportation vehicles since 2020. Without this partnership, Senior Services would not be able to be as successful as we have been in providing rides to over 375 older adults in the last fiscal year.
Each award recipient has demonstrated outstanding leadership and advocacy toward improving community conditions or services provided to older Midland County residents and we are proud to recognize their achievements.
