Past honoree Anthony "Neno" LaRusso of Angola introduced the recipient of the Union Award and Honorary Veteran Award, Joe Catalano.  Joe's first union membership was with the Congress of Industrial Organizations ("CIO") before its 1955 merger with the American Federation of Labor ("AFL".)  He has served as Commander of the Evans VFW Post #5798 for a total of 15 years. 

Joe served his country in both the Air Force and Army, and his numerous awards include 5 Bronze Stars, the fourth-highest combat award of the Armed Forces.  He was awarded these in recognition of his actions during 5 Korean War battles.  

Another past honoree, Bob Catalino of Angola, introduced the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Karen Connors Erickson.  Catalino described Erickson's entry into politics which arose through discussion between he, Mrs. Erickson, and her late husband, Jim Erickson.  Mrs. Erickson has been elected to two terms on the Evans Town Board and also serves as the town's Deputy Supervisor.  She is a longtime area businesswoman, running Connors Hot Dog Stand which her family started in Angola in 1944.  She and her husband raised 8 children in Evans.

Following a standing ovation, Erickson spoke about the role of politics in her life.  "When I was a kid in South Buffalo, my father owned property out here and was registered to vote in Evans.  On Election Day, he'd come out here to vote and would bring me with him.  He told me that in a small town like our's, he always thought that his vote was very important and meant so much.  That's still true."  She talked about the example set by other elected officials with whom she has served and closed by noting how proud she is to be a South Towns Democrat.  

The Chair of the South Towns Democrats, Tish Brady, recognized the distinguished service of the Elected Official of the Year, Hon. Brian Higgins, Congressman for the 27th District, who is in his second term.  She noted his many accomplishments, including his fight  for $270M to fund Lake Erie waterfront development. 

Higgins congratulated all of the evening's winners, and discussed a sad phone call from Mrs. Erickson, on this past New Year's Day.  "She told me of the death of John Granville in the Sudan.  John was serving as a diplomat for our country, working for the United States Agency for International Development."

"I had the chance to go to Africa during my first term.  I remember leaving and thinking that the peacekeepers were in the most danger; these were people like John Granville.  Before his death, John had acknowledged to his mother that he knew the dangers present, but he believed in the work he was doing for world peace.  He set a great example."  Granville was leading a project to prepare for upcoming 2009 election in South Sudan.