Asheville Living Treasures Announces Three Honorees for Fall 2011
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Former state representative Marie Colton. Photo: Urban News |
Staff Reports
Asheville Living Treasures has named three laureates for its fall ceremony, which will recognize outstanding citizens of Asheville whose lives have made a lasting difference to our community. The three new Living Treasures are Marie Watters Colton, Dr. Lewis Rathbun, and Rosa Walker.
Marie Watters Colton served eight consecutive terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing Buncombe County, from 1978 to 1994. As a true pioneer among women in elective leadership, she served as the first woman elected to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore and was overwhelmingly re-elected for a second term in 1993.
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Pioneering physician Dr. Lewis Rathbun. Photo: Urban News |
Dr. Lewis Rathbun served as physician at the Norburn Clinic – now Mission Hospital – beginning in 1947. As an OB-GYN he spent his entire career in bettering the lives of women in Asheville and the surrounding counties. He served as Chief of Staff of the hospital and was honored as Physician of the Year. Dr. Rathbun delivered 5,000 babies during his career. In 2009 he authored a book about his life and medical practice entitled “A Doctor All My Life.”
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Business owner and community leader Rosa Walker. Photo: Urban News |
Rosa Logan Walker was a visionary for the betterment of the Asheville/Buncombe County community. Over a period of forty-five years she owned four beauty salons, employing over fifty cosmotologists. Rosa’s belief in service included volunteering for Quality Forward, planting trees and establishing a small park on Eagle Street. Rosa has been a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church for many decades. As a retiree living in Battery Park Apartments, Rosa joined the Concerns Committee where she was involved in addressing the rights of the disabled.
Asheville Living Treasures
Asheville Living Treasures was established in October 2010 for the purpose of recognizing valued elders of Asheville and Buncombe County who have devoted their lives to making our community a better place to live. The first four honorees—Jessie Coleman, Mary Parker, Lucille Flack Ray, and Hyman Dave (who died just days before the ceremony)—were inducted in May of this year.
Organizers hope that their shared history of community service will inspire others, young and old, throughout Asheville and Buncombe County, to understand that one individual can make a real difference in this world. “Asheville Living Treasures—Their Oral Histories” will be housed in the Ramsey Library, Special Collections at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Founding members of the Asheville Living Treasures Committee are Carol Kessler (chair), Carmen Ramos-Kennedy, Donna Schutt, and Marnie Walsh. Celebrations are held in the spring and fall each year. For more information, email to [email protected].
The honoring ceremony for these three remarkable Asheville Living Treasures will be held on Sunday, October 23 in the Chapel of the First Baptist Church on Oak Street. The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. and is free to the public. A brief reception will follow.
For information about the event, or about the organization, please visit www.ashevillelivingtreasures.com or phone Carol Kessler at (828) 505-7259.
