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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hall of Fame inductees honored for tireless community efforts

Sister Madonna Buder, left, is announced as the winner in the Public Service and Philanthropy category on stage at the Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame ceremony Wednesday at the downtown Public Library. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
From staff reports

There was a clear message at the Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame Breakfast at the downtown Spokane Public Library on Wednesday morning.

Never retire.

The list of nominees from each category exemplified people who never stopped working in giving back to the community. The breakfast marked the fifth anniversary of the community awards produced by the Spokane Library Foundation.

Members of the community nominated 150 people for inclusion in the hall, 18 of whom were chosen as finalists. Previous inductees include Bloomsday founder Don Kardong, Spokane author Jess Walter and the Rev. Bernard Coughlin, former president of Gonzaga University.

The highlight of the award ceremony was the presentation of the Spokane Community Impact Award to historian and author Jerrelene Williamson, who received a standing ovation for her acceptance speech. Williamson wrote “African Americans in Spokane,” a book that presenter Mari Clack said everyone in Spokane should read. Clack and her husband, Dave, won the award last year. Dave Clack recalled days spent in his high school glee club and told the audience about Williamson’s amazing voice.

Williamson, 87, is a member of the Walk of Fame at Rogers High School, where she graduated in 1950. In 2003, she received the Jefferson Award from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for distinguished community service.

In the Arts and Letters category, former Spokane Arts Director Karen Mobley said she was surprised to receive the honor. She didn’t prepare a speech, figuring Mike Kobluk would win. Kobluk, a founding member of The Chad Mitchell Trio, helped establish the “Best of Broadway” series in Spokane. Mobley is a visual artist, poet and arts consultant, and an arts teacher at Whitworth and Spokane Art School. Chris O’Harra, the former owner of Auntie’s Bookstore, was also nominated.

Jeff Philipps started as a box boy at a Great Falls, Montana, grocery store and for the past 19 years has been president and CEO of Rosauers Supermarkets. He was honored in the Economic Development and Business category. Washington Trust Bank President and CEO Jack Heath and entrepreneur Mark Camp were also nominated.

The Education category was stacked, with the 2018 national teacher of the year Mandy Manning, longtime Gonzaga professor Dr. Raymond Reyes, and retired principal Deborah K. Johnson, who received the award. After retirement, Johnson founded two organizations – Prodigy Northwest and Invent Washington. She is still a volunteer for both nonprofits.

The Innovation and Leadership recipient was Toni Lodge, a lifetime America Indian community activist and businesswoman. For the past 27 years, she has been the CEO of the Native Project, an urban Indian nonprofit center. Mary Ann Murphy, a lifelong advocate for children; and social justice activists Rusty and Nancy Nelson were also nominated.

Sister Madonna Buder, 87, said her award for Public Service and Philanthropy belonged to everyone at the breakfast. Known as the “Iron Nun,” Buder continues to compete in triathlons and her philanthropy has benifited SNAP and Catholic Charities. Also nominated was the Rev. Percy “Happy” Watkins, one of Spokane’s spiritual leaders, and Lynn Everson, who coordinated the Spokane Regional Health District’s needle exchange program for nearly 28 years.

Dr. Hrair Garabedian was honored in the Science, Health and Medicine category. Born in Lebanon, Garabedian is known for his work in helping children with congenital heart disease. He thanked Spokane for putting up with his accent, which he described as much worse when he moved to Spokane in 1971. Dr. Eric S. Johnson, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at WSU, and Anne McClain, a NASA astronaut, were also nominated.

Historic inductees included Ruth Sampson Ayers (1898-1991), Ina (1896-1991) and Eric (1895-1963) Johnston, Dr. John Moyer (1922-2014), and Ed Tsutakawa (1921-2006).

Each person inducted received a key to the city and will be included in the library’s Citizen Hall of Fame website. Sarah Bain, director of development at the Spokane Library Foundation, said the inductees may soon be featured in a physical Hall of Fame display that is in development.