Jack and Sharon Shaw and their family will be the guests of honor at the 17th annual Woolwich Historical Society Recognition Dinner and Silent Auction. Ticket reservations are being accepted for the event set for Saturday evening, Sept. 14, at the Taste of Maine Restaurant.

Each year around this time, the historical society recognizes an individual, couple or family with its Distinguished Service Award for dedicated volunteerism to the community.

“Decade after decade, the Shaw family has proven their commitment to Woolwich and we hope the community will join us to celebrate and honor them,” wrote Woolwich Historical Society President Debbie Locke in announcing the award.

“It’s an honor,” Jack Shaw, president of Jack Shaw & Sons, Inc. told the Wiscasset Newspaper on learning his family had been named this year’s recipient.  “Every member of our family can take pride in this because over the years they’ve all contributed.”

Born and raised in Woolwich, Shaw has been the town’s elected road commissioner since 1985.  

The Shaws will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary Thursday, Sept. 5. Their children include Tammy Given, twin sons Stacey and Jason, and Juliet, their youngest, Jack Shaw said. Tammy, Stacey and Jason all work for the construction company. Juliet is employed with Maine Medical Center in Portland where she’s also enrolled in the nursing program.

Tammy’s husband Carl Given also works for the construction company, as does their daughter Cheyenne’s husband, Nick Skillin.

Jason Shaw is a selectman. Over the years, he, Tammy and other family members have helped organize Woolwich Day and other community events including the annual Yule Sing and Memorial and Veterans Day programs. Jason and Tammy are also longtime members of the historical society. Before being elected to the select board, Jason served on the planning board.

“In 1949 my father Ivan C. Shaw purchased an International tractor, equipped it with a front-end loader and started doing excavation work,” said Shaw about the start of the company that turns 70 this year. “I was still in school when I started driving the company’s excavator and plowing snow from the roads. I’m still doing both today.” Shaw said for many years his mother Jeanette, Ivan’s wife, managed the office, a responsibility Tammy assumed not many years after Jack bought the company in 1978.

In the 1960s, Ivan like his grandson Jason Shaw, served on the select board. 

“We’ve traveled on vacation to many other places but I think I can speak for all of us when I say, Woolwich is home and always will be,” Shaw continued.

“Something Sharon and I have always believed is you get more out of life when you personally get involved in your community. We’ve tried to instill that same belief in our children. We’re very proud of all of them.”

Dinner reservations need to be made by Monday, Sept 9. Tickets are $35 each, paid for in advance. A silent auction and a social start at 5 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner at 6 with the awards program to follow. To buy tickets, call Tammy Given at 443-3932 or email: jshawandsons@comcast.net