HOULTON, Maine — Among the awards presented at the recent Annual Meeting of the Houlton Rotary Club on June 19 were a Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to Bob Anderson.
In addition, Otis Smith was the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship, which is one of the highest honor a member can receive.
Anderson received his Lifetime Achievement Award from Past President and Past District Governor Leigh Cummings.
Cummings shared Anderson’s background of growing up on a farm in Littleton, attending the University of Maine where he received a degree in agriculture and engineering and then returning to Houlton and joining F. A. Peabody Company. Anderson led FAPCO, as it is often called, through periods of growth with.
He took the reins of the company in 1967 when there were 10 employees. FAPCO now has 92 employees with nine offices around Maine.
Over the years, the company has included real estate brokerage, a travel agency, Financial Administration services and now features a broadband affiliate. Among Anderson’s accomplishments that were detailed were being a member of the Masonic Lodge, being a Shriner and being recognized as the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.
Anderson has served on the Katahdin Trust Company Board of Directors for over 30 years, was on the board of Maine Public Service for 20 years and is a long-time member of the Houlton Lodge of Elks. He has been instrumental in assisting the hospital and in the creation of the Houlton Regional Health Services Foundation helping them raise over $1 million dollars through efforts such as the County Open, the Society of ’72 and the Boy and the Boot Endowment Fund.
Riverfront Park and the Gateway Crossing Bridge exist primarily due to the work of Bob Anderson and he is now involved with the Putnam House. Bob continues to commit time to make Houlton a better place to live.
Anderson was married to Jeanette Benn. His son Chris lives in Houlton with his wife Liz while daughter Kathy and her husband Lance live in North Carolina. Anderson has five grandchildren, Aaron, Luke, Madeleine, Austin and Emily. Many of Bob’s family and friends were in attendance for the award presentation.
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- Otis Smith, right, was the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship at the annual Houlton Rotary Club gala. With Smith is his wife Michele. (Contributed photo/Andy Mooers)
In making his remarks, Cummings noted his admiration for Anderson and how pleased he was to make the presentation and to personally say thanks.
Smith’s Paul Harris Fellowship was one of two presented by the club. His recognition was as a Rotarian. The other was presented to non-Rotarian Frank Dunn.
Pas President Craig Bean recognized Smith. He acknowledged Smith’s significant involvement with the Rotary Literacy Committee and coordinating many of their projects including purchasing books, placing adults in classrooms to read to the students and coordinating with other organizations such as Cary Library and the Houlton Higher Education Center.
Smith’s professional background includes a number of years of farming as well as working in real estate, marketing and teaching. Smith retired in 2016 after serving as the Director of Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education for a number of years and before that as the assistant director.
Prior to his retirement, Otis was recognized as the Adult Education Administrator of the Year.
Despite retiring, Smith continues to be involved in many organizations and efforts throughout the community. He is a past president of the board of the Chamber of Commerce, has been involved with the Adult Education Association, the Aroostook County Extension Board of Directors and served on the Board for Maine Adoption Placement Service (MAPS).
Smith co-chaired a committee whose work resulted in the Houlton Higher Education Center being a reality. He has also been involved with the Riverfront Committee and several other community organizations
Smith is married to the former Michelle Bouchard. They have two daughters who both live in South Carolina – Amanda and her husband Nathan and Samantha and her husband Ben. They also have two grandchildren, Avery and Emma.
