1998 - Fall - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

'-- ~wsletter entervilCe - 'Esta6fisfiet{ 1857 '" Fall1998 Lifetime Achievement Award Presented July 22, 1998. to Orville Hughes 1880 Mtdn Street I Orville was born to Herbert Hughes and Eleanor Peltier on the seventh day of March 1932. He is one of eight children in his family. He went to Centerville School until the third grade, then his family moved to Centerville Township. He then attended school next to the Methodist Cemetery on Birch Street through the eighth grade. It was at that point in his life that he started working for local farmers. When he was eighteen, he worked in construction, and helped build the hippodrome at the State Fair grounds. /' " He was drafted into the armed forces during the Korean War shortly after he ( ~ turned twenty. He served in the Army Signal Corp. He was a power maintenance man and was respOnsible for -~ bringing power to the camp that he was stationed at. While he was still in the service he returned home on leave and married Beverly LaCasse. They.were married on April 22, 1953 in the Church of St. Genevieve, Centerville. Beverly joined Orville shortly after he arrived at his base in California. Throughout their life together every decision was based on how they could provide for themselves and their children. They raised seven children together. Taking care of a family did not give Orville the opPortunity to further his own education. He often worked many jobs to provide the many items that seven children needed as they grew up. Orville served his community through being a volunteer fIreman. He was a volunteer on the ftre department for twenty-one years. Orville went to work for Centennial School District at Center:viIle Elementary in 1970. In 1971 Mayor Marcel Rivard asked Orville if he would work part-time for the city cutting grass on the city hall field which was loC~ on the current senior housing property. Orville wore many different hats while working for the city. In his work he usually went above and beyond duties. . Orville was promoted to Public Works Director in 1986 and worked several more years for the city. When Orville retired and Paul Pa1zer was hired, Orville was stilI around.to explain how our system worked and was always willing to lend a hand if needed. " Orville continued to work at Centerville Elementary School until lie retired in 1997. While working-at the school, he developed a very special relationship with the local Cub Scout Pack 432. Orville helped the Scouts in many different ways and was made an honorary Scout by the Pack. This was just one more example of how he loved to help others. In everything he was involved in he gave it his all. I asked Orville if he had a special saying or a favorite quote. Beverly spoke up and said, "He may have said it in different ways, but the meaning was always the same. He would say, "I can help with that. ". . j . Over the years, many things that Orville did were part of his job. But to him as a persoll he did so many more (things that were not part of his job. He gave of himself in every way for his family, city, community and school. Today we give thanks for au that you have done and for all that we knOw you will still continue to do. ~ you _ from the city, school and cOlDlD.unity'that you served so well by always saying "I ~ help with that." By Mary Capra, Lifetime Acbievement Award Committee tl'Rememberfo Vote November 3n1