Marx Gibson Community Leadership Award given to Walter Zaida
The University of St. Francis and Joliet Region
Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave the Marx
Gibson Community Leadership Award to Walter Zaida.
Zaida
is the third recipient of the award given in the
name of the late newspaperman Marx Gibson, who
was dedicated to volunteerism and making a positive
difference in the community. The Marx Gibson Community
Leadership Award is given jointly by the University
of St. Francis and the Joliet Region Chamber of
Commerce and Industry. University of St. Francis
President Michael Vinciguerra and Joliet Region
Chamber President Russ Slinkard presented the
award Nov. 12 at the chamber’s Community
Leadership School graduation dinner.
"Walter
Zaida is someone who exemplifies volunteer leadership,
community dedication and effective leadership
for improving the quality of life in the greater
Joliet region," said Slinkard. "He has
given unselfishly of his time and energy to make
a difference in our community."
"The
Marx Gibson Community Leadership Award is very
much in keeping with the university’s mission
and Franciscan ideal of service through leadership,"
said Vinciguerra. "While I didn’t have
an opportunity to know Marx Gibson, his legacy
lives on in the difference his good works made
in our community."
Now
a retired vice president of Joliet Junior College,
Zaida served as interim president in 1985. After
his retirement, he also served as interim director
of the Three Rivers Education for Employment in
1988 and of the Joliet Chamber of Commerce in
1990. He is also involved part time in farming.
Zaida
is a life member of the YMCA, serving on its board
of directors since 1979. He is also the 1999 recipient
of the YMCA Volunteer of the Year Award. A life
member of the Joliet Junior College Foundation,
Zaida has served on its executive board since
1990. He is a recipient of the JJC Alumni Hall
of Fame Award. Zaida is also a founding member
of Joliet/Will County Project Pride. He has been
a member of the Joliet Rotary Club since 1985,
and presently serves on its board of directors.
Manhattan
residents Zaida and his wife, Angela, have two
children and three grandchildren.
The Marx Gibson Community Leadership Award, established
in 2000 was first given to Diane Habiger, owner
and manager of Lincolnshire Properties in Joliet.
The 2001 award was given to Robert Wysocki, owner
of Grant’s Appliances in Joliet.