Sam Harding was presented with the 2022 Above and Beyond the Call Award, the ABC Award, at a Community Appreciation Night hosted by Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community March 28 at Greene County High School.
Sid Jones, 2021 ABC Award recipient, made the presentation.
Harding was instrumental in the design and construction of the Webb House youth center in 2002. At that time he was well into a 26-year tenure on the Jefferson-Scranton and then Greene County Schools board.
After retiring from the school board he served as owner’s representative for the construction of the new $35 million high school and the renovation of the middle school. He was at the construction site daily through all stages of construction and finish, from the first site preparation until the final punch list was completed. Harding volunteered for the position, saving the school district an estimated $100,000.
Soon after that project was completed, he was recruited to be a board member of the Greene County Early Learning Center, now known as The Children’s Center. He served as owner’s rep during construction of the new building on S. Vine St, again volunteering his time.
Jacque Andrew, co-chair of The Children’s Center board, noted that “while Sam’s involvement in the community has been wide-ranging, his service has always been true to his core values – concern and support for youth, education and faith.”
She said that during Harding’s long tenure as a school board member, he always had “the best interest of kids in mind….His leadership provided a steady hand to the board and an all-encompassing concern for providing an excellent education in an environment focused on the well-being of students.”
Andrew said that as owner’s rep for the $2.2 million childcare center, “his experience was invaluable as an asset to the board.” He approached the special requirements for buildings designed for young children “with sensitivity, concern, and a kind and caring heart,” Andrew said.
Harding has been a Jefferson Rotarian since 1994. Andrew, also a Rotarian, called him “a pillar of the club.” He has served as chair of the Rotary Bell Tower Festival parade for many years, and has also filled important roles in the annual charity auction, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for community and Rotary projects.
“Sam’s is the kind of commitment that is truly at the heart of giving service above and beyond the call. We are so thankful for his generous spirit which has touched our lives and the good he has done for so many,” Andrew said.
Jim North spoke of Harding’s contributions to the Webb House. He praised Harding’s foresight in designing the building with extra strength drywall and flooring, wide doorways and a ramp and even an elevator for accessibility, plenty of storage in the kitchen area, an abundance of electrical outlets, and enough water spigots to make outdoor water play possible.
“I cannot say enough about all the good Sam has done for the Webb House and all the people who have benefitted from his expertise and good judgment,” North said. “We’re thankful for all those years he has cared so much for the youth of Greene County in so many different ways.”
Harding was surprised and very touched to receive the award. He said he had many role models of service as he grew up, including his scout master (he’s an Eagle Scout) and his Sunday school teacher. “They taught me to have a heart to serve, and that’s what I do. I’ve always done that, and I don’t need an award for it. It’s just part of who I want to be.
“I’m very honored by this award. That list of names (of previous recipients) is impressive, and I know most of them. I admire what they do. To be on a list with them is an honor,” he said.
He said that serving as owner’s rep for the school construction was “the best thing I’ve ever gotten to do, to build this building. They’re not joking. I was in every minute of this thing…. I wanted to make sure it was built correctly, that we wouldn’t have any problems with it, and so the kids could learn. Everything we designed and put into this building was thought through to be so the kids could learn. I was lucky enough to be in the position to help that happen.”
The ABC Award has been presented annually since 1977 to an individual or a couple who through their personal involvement and leadership qualities and their unselfish time and talent have positively affected activities and accomplishments beneficial to the community at large.
