Clukey presented with Myrick Award

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The landscape of Dover-Foxcroft looks different today than it did two decades ago when Town Manager Jack Clukey came on board. Now, the Mayo Mill complex offers office and dining space as well as apartments in the former manufacturing building. A site along the Piscataquis River that was once a tannery is now Browns Mill Park. Central Hall has been revitalized into a space for large and small events, and the former elementary school is now the town office.

For his work with these projects and more, Clukey was honored as the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council’s 2024 Warren “Pete” Myrick Award recipient. Clukey, who this fall announced he would be stepping down in early January to pursue other career goals and challenges, was presented with the honor during the PCEDC annual meeting Dec. 12 at the Central Hall Commons.

Council Executive Director Angie Arno said the Myrick Award is presented annually by the executive committee to recognize a “resident, business, or organization who exemplifies Pete Myrick’s concern for and commitment to education, economic development, and/or civic leadership in the region.”

She said the late Myrick was a longtime education and administrator in SAD 4 and one of the PCEDC founders. 

“The Myrick Award is not given solely to recognize one’s job performance but seeks to acknowledge those who go above and beyond in donating their time and community service,” Arno said. “The criteria for being considered in determining the award includes the overall impact of the candidate’s accomplishments, the duration of the candidate’s position, community service activities, and the breath of involvement in their community.”

She then announced Clukey as the 2024 honoree to which he received the first of four standing ovations during the evening.

PCEDC Board President Denise Buzzelli said she has had wonderful opportunities to work with Clukey on various projects and committees. “He genuinely cares for the town and just has been very levelheaded,” she said. 

“He just has been such a steady rock in his position,” Buzzelli said. “It’s been very comforting to me as someone who leads the (Piscataquis) Chamber of Commerce to know that he’s been at the helm of the town, the county seat the chamber resides in, and he is going to be very missed.

“This is a perfect opportunity to express to you our appreciation. We acknowledge all your work, we acknowledge all your commitment over the years, and we are going to miss you.”

Dover-Foxcroft Select Board Chair Tom Lizotte said when PCEDC officials developed the award to honor Myrick’s legacy 22 years ago he was tasked with developing the criteria. 

“I can say with some degree of assurance that Jack Clukey meets every standard,” Lizotte said, saying the room full of people in the beautifully renovated building are testimony. 

“Jack has shown a commitment to the three pillars that made Pete Myrick such a special guy, No. 1 civic engagement in Piscataquis County,” Lizotte said. “Really, who is more engaged than a town manager, they are involved in every aspect in municipal government and they are involved in every aspect in the community.”

He said the second pillar is educational support, with Clukey’s father having worked with Myrick at Piscataquis Community High School and the younger Clukey serving as a Foxcroft Academy trustee. Lizotte said one of Clukey’s parting gifts is working to help secure $1.5 million in federal funding that will help convert the Penquis Higher Education Center into a vocational and technical training center.

“The third pillar, since we are at an economic development council meeting, is that Myrick Award winners demonstrate a consistent involvement in their region’s economic development efforts,” Lizotte said. “Not just the town of Dover-Foxcroft, the entire region. Jack has been a key asset in the county economic development council for many years. He has twice stepped up as board president. The list of his economic development projects is incredibly impressive. None more so than the transformation of the Mayo Mill complex to a multiuse facility.

“Just think back 15 years ago, that empty building was the first thing you saw when you came into town. Now, when I see an empty building with broken windows and pigeons flying out the windows that sends a message, turn around and go someplace else, these people don’t care about their community. Jack poured his heart and soul into doing that incredibly complex project. He never gave up and when we had the open house for that in August a few years ago it was astounding to see how pleased people were with how that development came together.”

“His service to his hometown over more than 20 years has had a measurable positive impact on the quality of community life in Dover-Foxcroft, thank you for such lasting contributions,” Lizotte said.

Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey began his remarks by saying Clukey kicked barefoot for the Pony football team in the mid-1980s. 

Shorey said Clukey’s 20 years on the job “is a lifetime in municipal government,” which is not an easy feat. “Like being a barefoot kicker you must be tough, resilient, and a little crazy.”  

He said in the 15 years he has known Clukey he has observed him as “a person with a knack for thinking outside the box, like a barefoot kicker in the state of Maine. He’s an incredible listener, he processes information and he often offers a creative solution.”

“Jack is a strong advocate and supporter of education,” Shorey said. “He’s a visionary who can see the big picture, he understands the need for a strong educational system which is a background of a thriving community. He understands that education is a must for actual economic development.”

“Jack has excellent knowledge of the process of government grants and pathways to maximize their benefits and as a result our community has greatly benefited,” Shorey said. “Jack, you left an indelible mark on our town, your vision, dedication, and your uncanny ability to think outside the box have made a real difference.

“I wish you the best in your future endeavors, whether kicking a football or bureaucracy to the curb. Remember you have the heart of a lion and the soul of a barefoot kicker and keep on kicking.”

PCEDC board member John Simko shared some stories of growing up with Clukey in middle and high school and said ever since then Clukey has been a loyal friend.

“I think that has been his approach as a town manager, as a public administrator,” Simko said. “He has been a loyal, dedicated administrator for this community for two decades and he has given to you what he’s given to me as friendship and I think the town’s better for it.”

Clukey told the audience he was humbled and honored. “What means the most to me about receiving the Myrick Award is the amazing group of people that I join as a recipient,” he said. “Amazing people who have a passion for economic development, education. Amazing people who are able to bring so much good to the community in terms of creating opportunities for our residents, our businesses, our students.”

Clukey named all the previous recipients, some of whom were present, and said he had the opportunity to work with many of them. Clukey said he did not know Myrick personally but now can understand the award namesake’s passion for education and economic development with each depending on the other.

“For me to become part of this group of community leaders who have a passion for very meaningful and sustainable economic opportunities for our region is very special for me,” Clukey said.”Whatever contributions I have made to our region and community has only ever been possible because of people around me and the support they have given me,” he said, thanking the select board, municipal staff, the community, and his family.

“My role in the successes over the past 20 years have been a result of working with others to try to make the most of opportunities that have presented themselves,” Clukey said. “I have heard a lot about me tonight but it is really about we because it’s always been a collective group effort to accomplish anything.”  

“As great as it is to be recognized tonight by all of you, perhaps the greatest form of recognition is by those you will never meet, recognition by people 50, 100 years from now who notice how much future generations have benefited from our work,” he said.

Expressing thanks for the award, Clukey concluded, “The Pete Myrick legacy is about caring, caring about our communities to take action, caring enough about economic development and education to be a force for positive change.”

Previous Myrick Award recipients are Owen Pratt, retired Dover-Foxcroft town manager (2003); Merlene Sanborn, director of the Penquis Higher Education Center (2004); Roger Merchant, Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension Service (2005); Edwin Treworgy, retired educator, long-term member of the SAD 41 school board and member of the Three Rivers Kiwanis in Milo/Brownville (2006); Tracy Michaud Stutzman, executive director of the Maine Crafts Association (2007); Sherry French, office manager for WDME Radio (2008); Rhonda Taylor of Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union (2009); John Simko, former town manager of Greenville and former president of PCEDC (2010); Thelma Regan, executive director of Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative (2011); Bob and Barbara Moore, owners of Bob’s Sugarhouse (2012); Dennis Green, former select board member Brownville (2013); Richard “Dick” Brown, CEO Charlotte White Center (2014); Eddie Lewis, volunteerism and community and the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club (2015); Norman E. Higgins, retired SAD 4 superintendent and state representative (2016); Sue Mackey Andrews, Solutions Consulting Group, LLC, Dover-Foxcroft (2017); Nancy and Tom Harrigan of Milo (2018); Tom Lizotte, retired Piscataquis County manager and PCEDC board member (2019); Tom Goulette, retired Guilford town manager (2020); Paul Stearns, retired SAD 4 superintendent and state representative (2021); Bill Thompson, retired educator and longtime Guilford select board member (2022); and Chris Maas, longtime Dover-Foxcroft community volunteer (2023).