Rexroad receives Spirit of Wood County Award
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PARKERSBURG -- A Wood County man was honored for his contributions for volunteering to work during local elections for over the past 20 years.
The Wood County Commission presented a Spirit of Wood County Award to Lewis Rexroad on Monday.
Rexroad, a retired UPS driver, has worked each election in Wood County since 2000.
"The Wood County Commission recognizes and honors your achievements, accomplishments and community spirit," Wood County Commission President Blair Couch told Rexroad.
The 80-year-old was very appreciative of the honor and not sure what to expect when he was asked to come in.
"It is a humbling experience," he said. "I feel overwhelmed in getting it.
"It is always nice to be recognized. Sometimes you feel unworthy. I go out and do what I can and help people when I can."
He has been involved in local politics all of his life, keeping track of who the elected officials are at the local, state and national levels. He talked about making his own "Blue Book" directory of local officials when he was a kid, cutting out pictures of the people who were elected in his area and pasting them on paper and putting them together in a little book.
"I have always followed politics," Rexroad said. "I enjoy it.
"I have always followed the national elections. It is one of the joys in my life is my politics."
"Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. God is still in control. That is the important thing."
He has voted in every election for over 50 years and has received a certificate from the Secretary of State's Office recognizing that achievement.
"I try to be a good citizen and do what I can," Rexroad said.
Rexroad talked about his time with UPS and making deliveries all over the area in Wood, Pleasants and Tyler counties and how a lot of the people he had repeatedly served were like family.
In the 2020 Presidential election, Rexroad was one of the five statewide who cast electoral votes for former President Donald Trump who carried the state in that election.
Earlier this year, he was elected a Member Emeritus for the West Virginia State Republican Executive Committee.
He has worked during the Early Election period and on Election Day. He has been in demand when election officials have needed him and he has had to manage his time effectively with his volunteering work at the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.
"I love meeting the people and working the elections," Rexroad said.
He has volunteered at voting sites in Parkersburg, Belleville, at the former Ohio Valley College and others.
In addition to doing election work, Rexroad also helps seniors in his neighborhood in getting their trash cans from the curbs back up to their garages and helps put delivered newspapers on people's door knobs for easy reach.
Couch said the commission was made aware of his accomplishments. He has been elected to the Wood County Republican Executive Committee and the West Virginia Republican Executive Committee. He was a state elector during the last presidential election. He has been a poll worker for over 20 years.
"All great things," Couch said. "We wanted to present him with an award for his long service to the county.
"There aren't as many active 80-year-olds."
Rexroad will be presented with the William P.A. Nicely Award at the upcoming Wood County Republican Executive Committee Dinner this Thursday. It is an award given every two years for work done for the Wood County Republican Party.
"Thanks for all the years you put in," Commissioner Robert Tebay told Rexroad.
"We are proud to know you and reap the benefits of all the history you have and everything you have done to help us out," Commissioner Jimmy Colombo added.
Rexroad said he was honored that someone was thinking of him.
He is also thinking ahead.
"The next election is coming up (in 2024)," Rexroad said.
In other business:
* The commission appointed Victoria Sims, Richard Schaffer and Dale McEwuen (who replaces Mike Shook) on the Wood County Planning Commission.
* The commission appointed Benjamin Auville (Wood County Airport), Ronald Utt (Dupont/Chemours), Dale McEwuen (Emergency Management) and Margaret Twaney (MOV Health Department) to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
* The commission appointed Paul Jordan, Tom Joyce, Nick Curry and Buddy Malone to the Wood County Development Authority.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com