Slideshow: Gene Schwab Memorial Award Luncheon

City employee Stephan Smith was awarded this year's annual Gene Schwab Memorial Award for "Service Above Self" at the annual Milpitas Rotary event on Monday.

Smith was nominated for the award by his peers. The transcript of MC Frank De Smidt's award presentation is below. Give it a read, then check out Patch's slide show. 

"Our 2012 honoree is Stephan Smith.

Throughout his 25 year career with the city, Steve has given the utility services the city can provide.  His actions protect public health and safety by supplying water and sewer for sanitation, water pressure for fire-fighting, and storm drainage for flood protection.

Steve is the long term president of the Milpitas Supervisors Association, volunteering his time to represents the interests of the MSA membership. He is involved in preparing numerous reports and papers on important procedures and plans. 

The California Coastal Commission has honored Steve as the longest serving volunteer creek cleanup captain in the state. He developed and leads a “Kids In Creeks” environmental awareness program for Milpitas High School students.

He serves and trains with the Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department including training in helicopter deployment. Steve also participates in charitable events including the delivering of bicycles to disadvantaged children on Christmas Day and with Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley ‘remodeling’ two mobile homes in Milpitas. 

Ironically, the first volunteer activity Steve was involved in while a City employee and within the Milpitas community was to install the neighborhood “Drive Safely” on behalf of our Milpitas Rotary Club in 1990. (And I just learned about this recently.)"