The Summit Club’s very own Leland Mebine at work at the Independence Day Parade where he works until the job is done.

Leland Mebine (far right) Joe Elgin (middle) and Jeff Minnig (left) prepare the hot dogs before going to the grill.

In January of 2010, Cindi Howard of the Flower Mound Chamber presented the Flower Mound Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Here are her remarks as she presented the award to Leland Mebine.

----------------------------------------------------------

Tonight I am proud to present the Flower Mound Chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award to a very deserving person who has impacted this community in more ways than we will ever know. The Chamber does not present this award every year and there have been only a handful of distinguished recipients over the years, making this an extra special recognition.

The person being recognized this evening is special to the Flower Mound community, and this honor is somewhat overdue. After a lifetime of moving from one community to the next, our recipient came to Flower Mound almost 30 years ago to be near his daughter and her family, and seemed to hit the ground running upon his arrival.

Quickly making his mark as a volunteer in various community organizations, he also made a mark on the hearts of those he served alongside. Over the years he has held leadership positions in the Flower Mound Chamber, Youth and Family Counseling, Friends of the Flower Mound Library, and the Flower Mound Rotary Club. In addition, he served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and on the Flower Mound Town Council.

He also continues to be active in the Summit Club, Rotary and the Flower Mound Library, although he no longer holds leadership positions. "When I became 90," he says, "I gave up all my positions because I thought younger people should have the opportunity to do these things. Although I feel I would still be quite capable myself, I wanted others to enjoy the things I had enjoyed."

Life isn't leaving him behind for sure, even as he approaches his 97^th birthday in June of this year. Three mornings a week he goes to the YMCA to exercise. His also attends Rotary Club meetings each week, as well as regularly attending productions at the Flower Mound Performing Arts Theater, The Greater Lewisville Community Theater and four other theaters in the Metroplex.

He also has a genuine love and concern for youth. Not only does he mentor at Flower Mound Elementary but he has served as sponsor for exchange students through the years and recently held the position of Rotary's District Youth Exchange Officer.

Born in Sacramento, California, in 1913, he was married to his wife (who passed away nearly three years ago) for 54 years. They had one daughter, who is here tonight. Although he has been retired for many years he had an exciting career, serving a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development, the civilian equivalent to a 3-star general, and working for NASA to develop and implement a Management, Control, and Reporting System for the newly formed agency.

An avid art collector, he and his wife filled their home with paintings, each one with a story. And when he retired, he, too, began painting, and estimates that he has created many original paintings, including landscapes and portraits of friends and family.

Another of his passions is the computer, believe it or not, although he says when his grandson first tried to convince him to buy one he was resistant. Now he stays at the forefront of technology, corresponding daily with friends by e-mail, and keeping up with friends and exchange students around the world via "Skype." You can also find him on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Our recipient has been honored as an Admiral in the Texas Navy and as a recipient of Rotary District 5790 Lifetime Achievement Award. When asked what he credits for his longevity, he said, "I think it's because I don't dwell on the past. I think in terms of the present and the future."

His motto "Life Gets My Vote" certainly exemplifies the positive, young-at-heart attitude of this community servant. And it is with great honor and privilege that I present the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award - 2010 - to