►
From YouTube: Aiken Award Recipient William M. McGhee, Jr.
Description
Excerpt from Mayor Osbon's Introduction
Our first recipient tonight has made contributions to our city that will last for generations. Which is fitting because his family has been a part of the Aiken fabric for generations. He appreciates history and has a pragmatic vision toward successful preservation. His dedication to the restoration of communities is unparalleled. It is said faith can move mountains, and that may be so but I know for certain that the vision and determination of this recipient can move a house. Let’s see what his friends and family had to say.
A
I
selected
the
word
resourcefulness
too,
as
a
one
of
bills,
character
traits
because
just
like
the
word
means
to
find
practical
uses
for
things
that
others
want
to
discard.
He
has
that
same
philosophy
about
old
homes
and
old
buildings
in
the
community.
My
sister,
not
only
ones
left
in
my
family
and
I,
wanted
to
move
here
to
be
closer
to
her,
and
when
I
told
her
about
that,
she
was
really
excited
and
I
said
well.
I'm
gonna
have
to
find
someplace
to
live.
She
said
well
as
it
turns
out.
A
We
just
got
a
piece
of
property
right
on
our
street
that
we
want
to
restore
an
old
house
and
because
of
his
strong
background
in
renovating
homes,
he
was
able
to
renovate
the
house,
but
he's
really
very
passionate
about
improving
the
neighborhood,
preventing
the
tearing
down
of
so
many
buildings
in
the
community,
which
can
help
the
community
rundown
and
very
much
in
favor,
of
keeping
and
maintaining
and
improving
the
character
and
the
quality
of
life
in
the
neighborhood.
A.
B
True,
visionary,
that's
Bill,
McGee,
with
historic,
Aiken
foundations
that
share
the
awards.
Committee
was
my
honor
and
privilege
to
be
able
to
recognize
numerous
projects
that
bill
has
done
over
the
years
and
the
one
that
comes
to
mind.
That
really
shows
his
vision
is.
It
was
the
old
parsonage
located
behind
United
Wesley,
Methodist
Church
and
the
church
wanted
to
demolish
the
building
and
Bill
said
no.
D
D
He
doesn't
just
delegate
the
task
to
somebody
he's
in
there
working
on
it
and
he's
he's
just
a
good
person
and-
and
it
just
shows
a
lot
of
commitment
to
me
well,
I
can
definitely
benefits
because
he
is
saving
a
neighborhood,
and
you
know
once
a
few
houses
are
gone
from
that
neighborhood.
It's
just
not
the
same,
but
mr.
McGee
is
putting
that
effort
behind
to
save
those
houses
in
the
neighborhood,
and
he
really
should
be
commended
for
that
bill.