Paul Harris Fellow honor bestowed on former Public Works Superintendent
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Aug. 31 — No one really gives much thought to Town water until the faucet won’t turn on, or Town sewer until the toilets won’t flush. Yet, there has been a steady force behind the scenes (or underground) helping making sure the toilets flush and the faucets turn on for nearly a half century in the Town of Luray.
“You can count on him and he’s always got a great attitude,” said Luray Mayor Stephanie Lillard. “And I think that says a lot about him, not only as an employee, but his character as a person.”
On Monday, Aug. 31 — right after clocking out on his last day of work — the Luray Rotary Club honored Lynn Mathews, the Town of Luray’s Superintendent of Public Works, by naming him a Paul Harris Fellow — one of the civic organization’s highest honors.
“Service above Self — it is the motto that all Rotarians try to live by. In this case, it applies to someone who is not a Rotarian, but this person lives by this motto in their personal and professional life every day,” said Luray Rotary President Cathy Weaver just prior to presenting the award to Mathews.
“We are gathered here tonight as Rotarians to celebrate and honor the work of a man who epitomizes service to their community, and the betterment of the residents who are fortunate enough to live and work here in Luray,” Weaver continued. “For 47 years, this person has served the Town faithfully and well. His last day of work was today, and Lynn leaves behind a stellar career going out on top of his department as Superintendent of Public Works. Most people know him by his nickname, Lenny, but by whatever name he is called, there is only one response from him — service.”
Paul Harris founded Rotary International in downtown Chicago in 1905. Upon his death in 1947, donations came pouring into Rotary to fight polio and a number of social ills. A decade later, the Paul Harris Fellow honor was born in 1957 to recognize those who contribute $1,000 or more annually to support Rotary programs (or has that amount contributed in their name).
In his honor, the Paul Harris Society became an official Rotary Foundation recognition program in 2013-14. The honor can be given to both Rotarians and community members who exemplify a commitment to service. Clubs also frequently purchase the recognition to honor non-members for outstanding local service.
“Lynn began working for the Town right out of high school in 1979, and like the Energizer Bunny, he has never stopped! As far as we can tell, he also lives by the Rotary Four-Way Test, both in his personal and professional interactions with friends and strangers alike. Truth, good will, friendships, and being beneficial to all are how he lives and works,” Weaver stated about Mathews. “For these reasons, and many more, the Luray Rotary Club is proud to honor Lynn D. Mathews by naming him as a Paul Haris Fellow. Our hope is that the community to whom he so faithfully served for nearly five decades will recognize his quiet, meaningful efforts and that we may continue to honor his dedicated commitment for many years to come.”
Rotary districts are encouraged to recognize society members by presenting them with a certificate and Paul Harris Society chevron lapel pin at a district or club event, or other special occasion. Because the society is a district-led program, leaders celebrate their local Paul Harris Society members differently around the world.
When “Lenny” first started with the Town in 1979, he said he was just “mowing and working on ballfields.”
“Basically I went there on a three-month government program…I had just finished school…wasn’t 100 percent sure what I wanted to do,” Mathews told PVN. “My dad was a carpenter down the road, but I knew that wasn’t my cup of tea.”
At the time, the Town had two separate shops for Public Works and “Lenny” took over a crew of six guys in 1994 that “mainly took care of the water system, reading meters, mowing, line painting, and numerous other jobs.” Then former Superintendent Jimmy Griffith decided to retire right after the turn of the millennium as Town Hall was being remodeled. In 2002, the two Public Works shops were combined, Mathews was named superintendent and he took over an office on Bank Street.
And there he stayed for the next 24 years. That longevity, according to Mathews, was only possible due to one thing.
“I would say all the guys that worked under me more or less,” he said. “When I took over the supervisor’s position in 2002, when both shops combined, the first six months, I don’t know, it seemed like I wanted to prove myself and wore myself out, and I realized that you have to get your guys to do the work and work together.
“I was very fortunate when I first took over there. The guys were very experienced in all phases of public works,” Mathews continued. “I know we’ve had turnover here in the last few years, but that’s the only way that I made it through there was the guys who worked under me.”
Town Manager Bryan Chrisman, who is a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow, said that with the nature of today’s labor market, it’s the longevity that impresses him the most.
“Forty-seven years is nearly five decades, so I think that anybody that works that long is a definite asset to their employer…in this case, he has worked for us almost five decades, but he’s put six or seven decades worth of work into that time. He is such a valuable asset,” Chrisman said. “We will be able to find someone to work in this position, but we will never be able to replace Lynn Mathews.
“In terms of his ability to serve the community, he exemplifies the best in all of us and the Rotary Club recognized that here tonight,” Chrisman continued. “I am very proud as a Paul Harris Fellow myself to have him as a fellow member…I just can’t say enough good things about Lynn Mathews.”
With his retirement on Aug. 31, Mathews no longer has to answer calls in the middle of the night when something goes sideways with Town utilities. However, he does plan to continue serving the Town on a part-time basis, as a consultant.
“When you think about leadership and the kind of community pride and public service, all wrapped up into one, he’s such a fine example of a life of service for your community,” Mayor Lillard said. “We’ve been so blessed and fortunate to have him…we were just talking about all the hours, and the after hours time he’s put in over the years, and never have I heard a negative or a criticism, griping or complaining.”
And the mayor says she’s never heard anyone utter a bad word about the dependable, long-time employee.
“No, never, never,” she responded.
“In my whole time on council, not just as mayor, he is the one employee name that I have heard countless times, over and over… everybody knows Lenny, people just reach out directly to him about issues…and everybody has access to Lenny. I get a number of calls and emails with complaints…but generally when it comes to Lenny, they say, ‘I will just reach out to Lenny’,” the Mayor said.
“And that’s because you can count on him and he’s always got a great attitude…and I’ll say again, I think that says a lot about him, not only as an employee, but his character as a person.”
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