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By Danielle Gillespie
CANYONVILLE — The entire room stood and erupted into applause as soon as they heard Gloria McGinnis’ name.
McGinnis received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Canyonville’s First Citizens Banquet on Saturday for her dedication to making her community a better place.
“From the minute I moved here, I have always loved this town,” McGinnis said. “I think it’s the best kept secret in Oregon.”
McGinnis, 73, came to Canyonville as a teenager in 1947 and got involved in her new home right away. Canyonville High School didn’t have yearbooks, so McGinnis pursued the possibility and was soon editor-in-chief of the yearbook committee.
Since then, she has served as the city’s mayor from 1996 to 2000. She’s a part of the Cow Creek Indian Foundation Board, South Umpqua Historical Society, Oregon Chapter No. 57, Order of Eastern Star and South County Community Choir.
McGinnis, who worked as a justice of peace for 25 years and a municipal judge for Canyonville, Riddle and Winston for five years before retiring in 1995, said she felt honored to receive the award.
“Nobody does anything alone,” McGinnis said.
She couldn’t have done any of this without her husband, Keith. She and Keith are high school sweethearts. They have two children, Carol Roberts of Canyonville and Linda Kerl of Lake Oswego.
McGinnis was one of five people honored for volunteerism and civic activities at Saturday’s banquet at the Masonic Lodge in Canyonville. State Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Green, presented the awards.
Sue Shaffer, chairwoman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and Circuit Court Judge Randy Garrison spoke.
“We are here to recognize those who have poured their hearts out and their souls out for their communities,” Garrison said.
Husband and wife Dave and Autumn Stevens received the Man and Woman of the Year awards. The Stevens’s, who own Gordon’s Pharmacy, moved to Canyonville in 2000 shortly after they married.
Autumn Stevens has served as the Lion’s Club treasurer for the past two years. She’s a member of the Canyonville Chamber of Commerce and the South Umpqua School District Foundation. Dave Stevens served as Lion’s Club president in 2004 and is now on the club’s sight and hearing committee, which works to give low-income people access to health care such as eye and hearing exams. Autumn and Dave both help to put on Pioneer Days. They have four children.
“We’re glad to be here, glad to be a part of a smaller community,” Autumn Stevens said. “It does make a difference.”
Dave Stevens said he feels honored to receive the award because past recipients make the final selections. A number of former recipients sat in the audience on Saturday. About 50 community members attended the banquet.
Canyonville School librarian coordinator Maggie Junkins was honored with Educator of the Year for her commitment to children. She has coached several sports teams and instructs art. Junkins could not attend Saturday’s event to receive her reward.
Amber Young, 16, received the award for Student of the Year. Young, who is home schooled, volunteers for the Chamber of Commerce. She is also active in Tri City Church of Christ.
“I feel so honored tonight,” Young said. “I enjoy my job. I hope to come back here and be an honorary citizen and be the best I can be everywhere I go.”
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