Molly Woehrlin Named 2012 Joseph Lee Heywood Award Winner

Molly Woehrlin's wit shone through Thursday when she was announced the 2012 Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award winner.

"I came for a meeting," she joked with the two dozen people who one by one came from another room at the to surprise her with the announcement and a cake.

Each year, a Northfield resident is selected for his or her service to the community. Heywood was killed while defending the old First National Bank during the robbery attempt by Jesse James and his gang in 1876.

Woehrlin is a former Rice County commissioner, is co-founder of Women in Northfield Giving Support, and has been involved in many organizations, including the League of Women Voters Northfield-Cannon Falls and Cannon River Watershed Partnership.

DJJD General Chair Wayne Eddy congratulated Woehrlin and said she was chosen because her contributions to Northfield and Rice County have been "exemplary."

"Do you have women now?" she quickly responded, filling the room with laughter.

In fact, Woehrlin is the sixth woman honoree.

Since 1983, the Heywood Award committee has honored a Northfield resident to “remind us of our past and our promise to improve our community for the future," according to the DJJD website.

Woehrlin will be honored Sept. 5 at a banquet that serves as the official start of Defeat of Jesse James Days.

With all cameras turned to her on Thursday, she had one last quip before the group broke up to mingle and offer their individual congragulations to her.

"I feel like a movie star," she said, smiling.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

• 1983 – Al Quie
• 1984 – Robert Shumway
• 1985 – Bernie Hughes
• 1986 – Curt Oleson
• 1987 – Karl Rolvaag
• 1988 – Paul Johnson
• 1989 – John Machacek
• 1990 – Wayne Eddy
• 1991 – Ken Grism
• 1992 – Don McRae
• 1993 – Jean & Orv Perman
• 1994 – Dan Freeman
• 1995 – Sanford “Sam” Haugen
• 1996 – Dorothy Schilling
• 1997 – Shirley Nelson
• 1998 – Don Lindberg
• 1999 – Mary Lou Street
• 2000 – Jerry Skluzacek
• 2001 – Jim Sawyer
• 2002 – Marv Grundhoefer
• 2003 – Will Brosz
• 2004 – Orin DeLong
• 2005 – Gene Finger
• 2006 – Don Pavek
• 2007 – Chip DeMann
• 2008 – Scott Richardson
• 2009 – Maggie Lee
• 2010 – Will Healy
• 2011 – Brett Reese

READ HER NOMINATION

Molly Woehrlin’s finger prints are all over Northfield. It is hard to scratch the surface of almost any organization or issue in Northfield without finding Molly Woerhlin prominently featured.

She has been a catalyst for institutional and social change here for the last 50 years. Her role has been that of educator, advocate, politician and community organizer. Her habit has been to help convene people around important issues, start an organization or a movement, and once it is up and running, she moves on.

Her interests are many and varied. She has been an advocate for children with special needs. She has been involved in environmental issues. She was once a Rice County commissioner. She has been actively involved with the ABC program, the Northfield Historical Society board, the East Side Neighborhood Association, League of Women Voters, First UCC church and many, many other groups that have had a major impact on the life of this community.

Through her imagination, leadership and sense of civic responsibility, Molly has helped shape the community culture that makes Northfield unique.

Here is a list of the projects and organizations that have occupied her time over the years:

• WINGS
• With Ann Vohs, 1st women Rice County Commissioners
• Smith alum 
• Carleton Oral History CRWP Founder 
• HATPIN 
• UCC Moderator 
• Minnesota Project
• ARC – lobbyist 
• Jerry Walshe’s Harem – parents fighting for children with DD
• HOPE center 
• League of Women Voters of NFLD Founder
• Instrumental in establishing Social Workers in Nfld Public Schools 
• Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction 
• Co-Founder Northfield Day Care Center 
• Head Start 
• Northfield Foundation 
• Northfield Student Project
• ABC 
• Northfield Garden Club 
• Garden of Remembrance 
• Carleton Oral History Project 
• 5th Bridge member 
• MN Roundtable on Sustainable Development 
• Nature Conservancy Board 
• Police Civil Service Commission
• Historical Society board
• Cows in the Kitchen 
• NHS oral history project
• CVEC
• East Site Neighbor Association
• Central Park Gardeners
• Library 
• River Bend Nature Center

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