2007 News
October 24, 2007
“Bringing Distinction to Bucks"
Commissioners Present 2007 Distinguished Citizen Award to Feldstein, Eastburn and Schweiker
The Board of Bucks County Commissioners, Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq., and Sandra A. Miller, today presented three county residents with the Distinguished Citizen Award for service and dedication to their professions, bringing widespread honor, dignity and recognition to Bucks County.
Dr. Joshua Feldstein, president emeritus of Delaware Valley College, William H. Eastburn, Esq., senior and managing partner of Eastburn and Gray, P.C., and Gov. Mark S. Schweiker, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, each received the honor during a reception held in the Elkins Gallery of the Mercer Museum this afternoon.
The Distinguished Citizen Award, which is the top honor county government extends to county residents, was first presented in 1979.
“It is with great pleasure that we recognize these three individuals, who have truly been national ambassadors for our county,” Chairman Martin said. “Their individual contributions to Bucks County are a tribute to the wealth of talent – and commitment to excellence - that is deeply rooted here.”
The commissioners presented the three recipients with an engraved plaque, celebrating their “rare talent and accomplishments that have brought honor, respect and worldwide recognition to Bucks County.” Past honorees of the Bucks County Distinguished Citizen Award are David A. Christian (1979); Ann Hawkes Hutton (1980); Selma Burke (1981); Walter J. Conti (1982); George Nakashima (1983); John T. Welsh, Sr. (1984); James A. Michener (1985); James J.A. Gallagher (1986); Willi Schaefer (1989); Stanley and Janice Berenstain (1991); Herman Silverman, Terry A. McNealy and William J. Carlin, Esq. (2001); Nelson Shanks and Joyce and Bob Byers (2003).
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF THE HONOREES
Dr. Joshua Feldstein: Traveling on his own, Dr. Feldstein emigrated from Lithuania to attend the Farm School of Doylestown in 1939. With no news from home he stayed on, graduating in 1942 with a major in horticulture. Hitler invaded Lithuania, and he did not learn of the death of his parents and brother until after the war .
Dr. Feldstein joined the staff and earned his B.S. degree after it became the National Agricultural College. He earned a Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in horticulture from Rutgers University. He served the college in many capacities; from instructor to professor to dean of the college. In 1975, he was elected the college’s president, a position he held until 1987. Upon his retirement, he was appointed president emeritus, to the board of trustees, and twice served as interim president. Dr. Feldstein was an early advocate and tireless fighter for bringing the PA Biotechnology Center to Bucks County.
Dr. Feldstein has been a leader in the effort to preserve over 10,000 acres of farmland, serving on the Bucks County Agricultural Land Preservation Board since its inception in 1989. He served on the first Bucks County Open Space Review Board, which in 1997 charted the direction for the county’s open space efforts over the next decade.
Dr. Feldstein and his wife, Miriam, continue to reside at Delaware Valley College where they have been for over 45 years. His devotion to this renowned college of agriculture and to the preservation of farms and agriculture throughout Bucks County is to be celebrated as we honor him today.
William H. Eastburn, III, Esq.: Mr. Eastburn is a successful businessman and entrepreneur as well as a philanthropic volunteer. His family law firm originated in 1877, with the admission to the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County of Hugh B. Eastburn. William Eastburn, his great-grandson, represents the fourth generation of the family to be a member of the firm. Eastburn and Gray is now the largest law firm in Bucks County.
Mr. Eastburn graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and joined the bar in 1962. He started his career with the Bucks County District Attorney’s office, and then the Office of Attorney General of Pennsylvania. He has served in distinguished legal positions including president of the Bucks County Bar Association, chairman of the Delaware Valley Bar Association, and president of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.
Mr. Eastburn has lent his expertise to many service groups, including; Co-founder and chairman of Americans for Native Americans, founder and chairman of the board of Voice of Reason, board member of the Heritage Conservancy, chairman of the Bucks County Commission on Violence Prevention Task Force, board member of the Free Clinic of Doylestown Hospital, co-founder and chairman of Hurricane Katrina Relief Project, co-founder and chairman of TODAY drug treatment program, to name just a few.
Mr. Eastburn and his wife, Constance, reside in Doylestown. His leadership in the law and community service is what we honor here today.
Gov. Mark S. Schweiker: Gov. Schweiker, a Levittown native and graduate of Bishop Egan High School, has represented Bucks County well as a native son who has flourished in the national spotlight.
Gov. Schweiker began his career of public service in 1979 when he was elected as a Middletown Township supervisor. In 1987, he was elected to the Board of Bucks County Commissioners, serving until 1994. He then was elected to state office, as the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1994 and 1998.
When Gov. Tom Ridge resigned to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mark Schweiker became the 44th governor of Pennsylvania. With a focus on Public Safety, he moved to secure Pennsylvania’s nuclear reactors, expanded the State Police and created the Governor’s Task Force on Security.
Gov. Schweiker’s most celebrated contribution was his leadership during the Quecreek Mine disaster in July 2002. He personally oversaw the 77-hour operation that led to the rescue of all nine of the trapped miners.
After leaving office in 2003, Gov. Schweiker became president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. In this position, he promotes growth and economic development in the 11-county region, advocating sound public policy while enhancing strong member services.
Gov. Schweiker and his wife, Kathy, live in Middletown Township with their three children, Brett, Eric and Kara.