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News May 01, 2010 Delco mayors Butler, Thomas honored By AMY BRISSON Times Correspondent PHILADELPHIA — Two Delaware County mayors were honored for commitment to their communities at a ceremony Friday. Chester Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr. and Darby Mayor Helen Thomas both received the Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Lights in the Community Award, given in honor of the congressman. Blackwell, who died in 2003, was a union leader, Philadelphia councilman, state representative and U.S. representative. Standing under the chandelier in the Mayor’s Reception Room at Philadelphia City Hall, Butler thanked the Blackwell family and award founder Malik Aziz for recognizing “our little town of Chester.” “This is just committed people, trying to make people’s lives better,” he said. “As long as we keep that thought in our head, we shall overcome.” The recipient list for this year’s Guiding Lights award was long and prestigious, including Camden Mayor Dana Redd, several Philadelphia Police Department top brass and a variety of educational leaders. Thomas said she was thrilled and humbled to see her work in Darby get recognized. “It reminds you why you became an elected official in the first place: To help,” she said. Chester community activist Seifuddin Simpson, an advocate for re-entry programs for ex-offenders, also received a Guiding Lights award.

News
May 01, 2010

Delco mayors Butler, Thomas honored
By AMY BRISSON
Times Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA — Two Delaware County mayors were honored for commitment to their communities at a ceremony Friday.

Chester Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr. and Darby Mayor Helen Thomas both received the Lucien E. Blackwell Guiding Lights in the Community Award, given in honor of the congressman. Blackwell, who died in 2003, was a union leader, Philadelphia councilman, state representative and U.S. representative.

Standing under the chandelier in the Mayor’s Reception Room at Philadelphia City Hall, Butler thanked the Blackwell family and award founder Malik Aziz for recognizing “our little town of Chester.”

“This is just committed people, trying to make people’s lives better,” he said. “As long as we keep that thought in our head, we shall overcome.”

The recipient list for this year’s Guiding Lights award was long and prestigious, including Camden Mayor Dana Redd, several Philadelphia Police Department top brass and a variety of educational leaders.

Thomas said she was thrilled and humbled to see her work in Darby get recognized.

“It reminds you why you became an elected official in the first place: To help,” she said.

Chester community activist Seifuddin Simpson, an advocate for re-entry programs for ex-offenders, also received a Guiding Lights award.