State honors Wilson, Phillips for service

ALBANY--Kenneth P. Wilson and Judith Haughey Phillips of Schuyler County were both honored by state representatives for their service this week. The legislators welcomed the two along with senior citizen volunteers from Chemung and Steuben Counties to the state capitol Tuesday, May 12, as part of the 2015 Senior Citizens Day Celebration.
Wilson, of Watkins Glen, has a lifelong career in banking, including serving for 25 years as branch manager/vice president of the Watkins Glen branch of Marine Midland/HSBC. For more than 40 years, Wilson has contributed to numerous volunteer activities, including as a 25-year board member and past chair of the Schuyler Health Foundation, trustee of the Watkins Glen Library, past president and campaign chair of Schuyler County United Way, member and past president of the Watkins-Montour Rotary Club, and member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Watkins Glen. He has chaired several major fund drives for Schuyler Hospital, United Way and the First Presbyterian Church, pointing with particular satisfaction to his work chairing the Hospital Emergency Room Campaign, on the steering committee to build a street-level public library, and the fund drive for this church's renovation.
Phillips, a lifelong resident of Watkins Glen, served as the Schuyler County director of public health and as the mayor of Watkins Glen. A volunteer for more than 40 years, Phillips has been involved in her community in many capacities, including on the Finger Lakes Board of Directors with the American Lung Association, the Chemung and Schuyler Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, and the EOP of Chemung and Schuyler Counties. She remains involved with many groups and organizations, including Elmira Psychiatric Center Board of Visitors, the League of Women Voters, the Arc of Schuyler Guardianship Committee, Schuyler County Catholic Charities, Southern Finger Lakes Women, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen Public Library Board of Trustees and the Watkins-Montour Rotary Club.
Others honored during the event were Marjorie MacPherson (Chemung County), Albert Draht (Chemung County), Ruth Walters (Steuben County) and Jane Jamison (Steuben County).
"What a great honor for all of the outstanding and meaningful service these area seniors have provided to so many of their fellow seniors throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions," said State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C,I -- Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I -- Corning) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I -- Big Flats) in a joint statement. "It's a fitting tribute to the thousands of hours they've volunteered, which have made such a difference in so many lives."
According to the Office for the Aging, Senior Citizens Day is celebrated in New York in conjunction with events across the nation during May to observe National Older Americans Month. This week's event acknowledges the significant contributions made by older New Yorkers to their communities. Local county Offices for the Aging submitted nominations for the 2015 recognitions.