Leslie Armstrong of Puyallup and James Fulcher of University Place top a list of citizens who will be honored Saturday, March 26 for outstanding volunteer service to Pierce County as Volunteers of the Year.
More than 50 individuals and several groups will be cited during the 27th annual Volunteer Recognition Brunch at the Tacoma Sheraton Convention Center. County Executive John W. Ladenburg and Council Chair Shawn Bunney will be masters of ceremonies and present the awards. More than 400 people are expected to attend the recognition event, which includes entertainment provided by the Tacoma Musical Playhouse.
Armstrong investigates misdemeanor crimes for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department South Hill criminal investigations division, specifically shoplifting and gas-up and run cases where suspect information is available. Last year he had a resolved rating of 30 percent. Fulcher volunteers as a reserve deputy in both the University Place and the Peninsula detachments of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. He also is a member of the Sheriff’s SWAT team. When you don’t find him working to keep your community safe, you’ll find him working to save lives as an emergency room doctor at Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Susan Parr and Barbara Taylor, both of Tacoma, will receive Long-Term Achievement Awards for their years of service. Parr has been a positive influence in the lives of Pierce County youth as a volunteer 4-H leader with WSU Extension for more than 36 years. Taylor, also involved in the lives of 4-H youth through WSU Extension, has worked in Pierce County for 29 years as a 4-H main club leader, a driving force in the 4-H Leaders Council Executive Board, and a 4-H dog superintendent. She has also held 4-H positions at the state level.
The volunteers who make up the Sheriff’s Posse were named Volunteer Group of the Year. This group has been in existence for more than 50 years, representing the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in parades and rodeos and getting involved in numerous community events.
The Youth Volunteer of the Year is Carrie Corter of Tacoma, who volunteers for WSU Pierce County Extension 4-H. When Pierce County’s 4-H rabbit fund-raising show was on the brink of being cancelled because of an unexpected vacancy of leadership, Corter stepped forward and filled the void, helping the rabbit program flourish again.
