Saturday, October 29, 2005

Citizen of the Year: Lillie McNabb

From election volunteer to Little League mom and beyond

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com

Bosque Farms She's a champion at getting things done — and no slouch when it comes to making a difference. Maybe that's what makes Lillie McNabb so effective as a community volunteer.

If there's something worth doing, you will find this year's Citizen of the Year helping to lead the charge. McNabb and her husband, Gary, moved to Bosque Farms in 1965 and it wasn't long before she learned one person can make a big difference and chose to do so.

Every city and town needs someone like McNabb — someone who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and do the heavy lifting, someone who will not be deterred.

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When McNabb has a cause you know it. She displays unwavering determination at its finest. McNabb is what towns such as Bosque Farms are about — idyllic, resolute and devoted.

For more than 40 years, McNabb has become known in Valencia County as a regular volunteer. From the time her children, Ione and Forrest, were small until the present day, Lillie McNabb has always been there — willing to help without question.

"I love to be involved and be a part of the solution, not the problem," she said. "Making a difference in someone's life is what it's all about."

When the McNabbs settled down in Bosque Farms and their daughter began kindergarten, Lillie says she was fortunate in that she was able to stay home and raise her children. It was at this time that she was able to start making a mark on the community.

"My priorities have always been my faith, my family and friends," she said. "You have to have faith to move forward — you can move mountains with faith. You have to believe in yourself but, before that, you have to believe in God. Without faith, you're no one."

One of the people who have personally been touched by McNabb's kindness and generosity is Rita Moya, a friend who nominated her for this honor. Moya first met McNabb 39 years ago when she and her husband, Joe, moved to Bosque Farms.

Moya said when Joe lost his job, McNabb didn't hesitate to show them what a true friend really is. Not only did McNabb take Rita to doctor's appointments and give them food and clothes, but she also gave her dear friends money in their time of need.

"She's an angel — both of them," Joe Moya said of Lillie and Gary.

Whether it was being a class mom or a member of the PTA, McNabb was always in the thick of things. At times, she even acquired a reputation of being "too available."

"I was always doing something," said the Los Lunas native. "If something needed to be done, I'd do it whether it was picking up material for Tiger costumes or taking the boys to Little League. I always had more than our two kids in the car."

Her years of chauffeur duty left such an impression on village leaders that one of Bosque Farms' streets was named for her — Lillie Drive. She said she was honored by the gesture and will never forget the days of Little League when she was team mom, scorekeeper and coach.

Not only has McNabb done for the children in the community, but she's also made it a point to help the entire county. If she's not assisting with the preparations for the Bosque Farms Community Fair, helping set up in Los Lunas the Moving Wall celebrating the men and women who died in Vietnam or volunteering her time at the senior center, she's working hard at the Hispano Chamber's annual matanza or raising money for the fire department. And if she's not helping out a neighbor or two, or three, or four, she's campaigning to bring a national veteran's cemetery to the county

When asked why she does all she does, McNabb simply answers, "I do what I do because I can. I feel such a need to help people."

And in between all that, she makes it a point to be involved and informed in all aspects of village government. In the past 30 years, McNabb has rarely missed a village council or a planning and zoning meeting — she says it's her duty to make sure she knows what is happening in the village that she helped to incorporate.

It was a time of great hope, she said. It was also a lot of hard work. For months on end, McNabb, along with many other residents, went door to door with petitions in hand campaigning for village incorporation. She said she was, and still is, very proud of the success and feels a sense of ownership in the village.

While McNabb has never run for public office herself, she has gladly served on numerous committees and boards, including a nine-year stint on the county's personnel hearing board. She said this was a personal accomplishment of which she will always be proud.

McNabb has also been heavily active with the Democratic party, both locally and statewide. She has held about every position including state central committee member, vice-chair of Valencia County, ward vice-chair and precinct chair.

"I was active until almost a year ago," she said. "I resigned from my positions last year for several reasons. When I did, it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. As I look back, I feel I ultimately made a difference and was able to help the party as much as I could."

While politics are very important to McNabb, there are few things as dear to her soul as voter's rights. For more than 30 years, McNabb has been on hand for every local, state and national election making sure that every vote is counted. Since the early 1970s, McNabb has been a member of the election board, a presiding judge and now what's called a special — her one and only paid position since the days when she was a cosmetologist.

"I have and always will respect and protect the voters' right to their privacy and vote regardless of party affiliation," she said. "I believe in helping a voter feel at ease and welcomed. I have also been very outspoken on the issue of voter's rights.

"I have attended every class available on elections to be able to serve the citizens better," she said. "If only I can impress to the registered voters that every vote counts, so exercise your rights to vote."

For everything that this woman has done, there has been a result achieved. The list of her accomplishments can go on and on — just like Lillie McNabb. Her tenacity, her wisdom and her love of family, faith and country is what makes this woman one of a kind.

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