LEADERSHIP MITCHELL COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD PRESENTED TO HEIDRICKS

On August 20, 2016, Max and Michele Heidrick were presented with the Leadership Mitchell County Community Service Award. A gathering of family, friends, and co-workers attended a banquet in their honor at the NCKTC Conference Room. The banquet was catered by Ray’s Apple Market, and was served by the Asherville Achievers 4-H Club, who gave a great demonstration of what could be described as “precision team service presentation” of the banquet meal.

LMC Charter Board member Curt Frasier served as the MC for the evening, introducing the first speaker of the Gala, Leadership Mitchell County board member Eric Hilt, who spoke of the impact Max and Michele have had on the LMC program. Eric referred to them as “Rocks of the Community”, and stated it is the goal of LMC to produce more “Rocks”. Eric was followed as speaker by Ruth Bell, who gave some funny anecdotes of Michele’s work with the Chautauqua Isle of Lights, but on the serious side, explained the many major contributions she has made to that organization since its inception. Paula Jones, director of Solomon Valley Hospice, spoke on Michele’s many contributions to SV Hospice, both as a board member as well as a diligent worker on many of the Hospice committees so vital to the financial success of the organization. She also spoke highly of Max as a MCHHS board member, and the impact that board has had on the expansion of health care in Mitchell County.

Brennan Eilert, counselor at Beloit High School, gave a very personal presentation on the support she felt in growing up in Beloit, and having the Heidrick family serve as “a second set of parents” to her. In her current professional capacity, she touched on many of the activities Max and Michele have supported over the years for USD 273, and especially the University of Kansas Honors Program for the North Central Kansas region of Mitchell, Jewell, Republic and Cloud counties. She also pointed out how their leadership skills have been passed down to their own three children, and now their grandchildren. This brought the first of the Heidrick children to the podium in the person of Heather Johnson, whose topic was the impact of the Heidrick’s on downtown Beloit. She referred to S&S Drugs as Max and Michele’s “fourth sibling”, and remarked how all decisions are based upon “is it good for our community”. Heather was followed by the youngest sibling, Joe, a member of the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. He detailed all the ways he tried to “set his own path”, but the handprints of Max and Michele were far-reaching in every endeavor he pursued. He described how Max was the initial recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of the KU School of Pharmacy, and that the slogan hanging in the Pharmacy building which states “The World is run by people who SHOW UP” fits Max and Michele to a “T”.

Pat Heidrick, wife of Max’s brother Charles (Chuck), detailed the impact the Heidrick’s have had on St. John’s Catholic Church in Beloit. She gave a visual example of their contributions by using M&M’s (for Max and Michele), and how their personal touch led to their “cup over-flowing”. Stephanie Simmons, director of the Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation, was next on the program. When asked by a state auditor why the MCRMF board would have a husband and wife (Max and Michele) pair on the local board, she gave an impassioned rundown on what each brings to the board, and how the Foundation benefits by the presence of both, convincing the auditor it certainly was to the board’s benefit. Jay Heidrick, last of the three children to speak, examined how Max and his three brothers were often given “opportunities” rather than gifts while growing up, a tradition that Max and Michele continued with their own children. Having opportunities is what allows communities like Beloit to thrive, in the opinion of Jay. The final speaker was longtime friend Don Hill, now a pharmacist and retiring State Legislator from Emporia, but originally from Smith Center. What began as school rivals in high school, blossomed as a true friendship while undergrads at K-State, and continued to develop while in Pharmacy School and in their professional careers. He stated Max and Michele truly epitomize the expression “You can’t always be in the best place, but you always have the choice to make the place you’re at the BEST it can be.”

Following these exceptional personal speeches, LMC board member Jason Chancellor presented Max and Michele a plaque describing the appreciation our county has for all their tireless efforts. This was followed by the surprise of the evening. For this Gala, the Heidrick family had chosen the Purdue House as the designated recipient of any monetary inducements given to them for the evening. The Community Service Award Committee had visualized a goal of $400.00 for the event. Instead, the Heidrick’s were presented with an outsized check in the amount of $2,470.00, which will be awarded to the MCRMF for the Purdue House project, a very fitting tribute for Max and Michele by the citizens of Mitchell County and the surrounding region.

In final remarks, Michele gave credit to “help from above” for many of the times she woke up in the middle of the night with “new ideas”, and thanked the citizens of the Beloit region for always being generous for something needed. And lastly, Max thanked the Leadership Mitchell County program, and how the Beloit/Mitchell County area is “very special, with the way volunteers always step up “ to make sure needed projects get completed. It was an enjoyable evening for everyone involved, and a fitting tribute to one of the hardest working couples in Mitchell County. Their efforts truly have made Beloit a better place to live.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA