Fayette Chamber names McDermott as citizen of year
John McDermott has a roof over his head and doesn’t worry about where his next meal is coming from. But he knows others are not so fortunate.
“I think as Americans we have a duty to try and serve our fellow Americans and I think that’s what drives and motivates me,’ the 2002 winner of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award winner, said.
The Citizen of the Year award is presented to someone who works for the betterment of the community, voluntarily and without compensation.
McDermott, who lives on Francis Street, Uniontown, has been a member of this community for more than 16 years.
He is currently a Conn Realty real estate agent and as an account executive at Mark IV Office Supplies in Uniontown.
“His commitment to the community is evident in his service on the boards of several non-profit organizations,’ a chamber spokesman said.
McDermott has served on the United Way Board and Allocations Committee and has served on the American Cancer Society Board for more than 12 years.
“Under his chairmanship, the Cancer Society had consistently broken fundraising records for their Relay for Life event. He is also an active member of The Salvation Army board, where he has served as its chair,’ the spokesman added.
McDermott was “pleasant surprised’ when informed of the honor.
“I don’t do the things I do for awards. I wasn’t expecting it,’ he said.
“As I look over the recipients of this from the past I see it has prestige and I see it as a great honor,’ he added.
McDermott, who for 25 years managed several Bon Ton department stores, his last assignment at the Uniontown Mall store, said he has always felt obliged to “give something back to the community.
“When we moved here 16 years ago my wife and I felt this would be where we’d probably settle down. We made a commitment to Fayette County, to help organizations.
“Part of this comes from our background. In my case I owe my parents the value system and sense of ethics I have today. They always gave me the feeling I should give back to the community in a humble fashion and I always try to do that.
” I don’t have to worry about a roof over my head or where we get our next meal. I feel fortunate that way and I’d like to do something to help those less fortunate.’
McDermott recently embarked on a pair of new careers after retiring from Bon Ton at the end of 25 years.
He managed Bon Ton stores in Chambersburg and Johnson City, N.Y., before coming to Uniontown. In 1995, Bon Ton named him General Manager of the Year.
“I had the desire to try something new while I had the energy to do it. I had a realtor’s license since 1972 and never really used it.
“My wife encouraged me to take the step and supported me in that effort. Figured it was time to move on and I haven’t looked back,’ he said.
But his altruistic efforts have been equally rewarding.
“I think one of the great things I have experienced through volunteering with United Way, Salvation Army and the Cancer Society is so many wonderful people in the county who don’t always get the recognition and hoopla and press. But we are very fortunate we have a lot of great volunteers who toil behind the scenes for various causes.
“I have made a lot of friends and really admire what they are doing,’ he said.
“With the cancer society we formed a team and the pride and accomplishment on that team is just contagious. More importantly, the team effort was successful. Each of the nine years we have raised a larger amount. This year we netted just over $203,000 for the local Fayette American Cancer Society.
“I would be remiss if I did not thank the efforts of the team, these volunteers that really made this all possible.
“One of the reasons Sally (his wife) and me stay in Fayette County is because we appreciate the goodness of the county and the citizens.
“The call is there for even more help. There are a lot of great causes out there in health related fields as well as helping those who have financial needs. They are all looking for volunteers,’ he said.
“One person can only do so much. So we need to get a team of committed individuals together.’
McDermott was born in 1950 in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Gateway High School in Monroeville in 1968 and from Penn State in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
His wife Sally, whom he married in 1973, teaches French at Connellsville Junior High West.
They have two daughters, Emily, a graduate assistant and school psychology doctoral student at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., and Molly, a senior and Schreyer’s Scholar at Penn State University in University Park, majoring in wildlife and fisheries science with minors in French and Spanish.
McDermott was chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life from 1994-2002; American Cancer Society-Fayette Unit Volunteer of the Year (1994-1995 and 1999-2000); recipient of the Golden Sword Award from the American Cancer Society this year; member of the Uniontown Salvation Army advisory board, where he served in 2001 as chairman; co-chairman of the Uniontown Triathlon in 2001 and a volunteer with the triathlon this year; Fayette Board of Realtor’s Realtor of the Year in 2001, and chairman of the Fayette Board of Realtors’ public relations/community projects committee in 2001 and 2002.
He is also a member of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Fayette Board of Realtors, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, Fayette Striders Running Club, Penn State Alumni Association and Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides.
The Fayette Chamber of Commerce will also honor Thelma Carlow Sandy with a lifetime Achievement Award, and Steve Neubauer with the Herman M. Buck Award at the chamber’s annual awards dinner on Dec. 5.