Kiwanis honors Murray with Youth Service Award

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville Kiwanis Club recognized Mary Ellen Murray with its 2011 Youth Service Award Tuesday night.

Murray is a retired teacher who taught at Gainesville High School from 1977 until she retired in 2005. During that time she taught social studies, including advanced placement history, and, in retirement, was called back for several years to teach the advanced history class.

In 2005, five of the 26 Northeast Georgia Academic All-Stars named Murray their most influential teacher and the Gainesville Northeastern Bar Association honored her with its Liberty Bell Award, given to a person in the community who has been successful in cultivating the values of this country's legal system.

But she was also recognized for her contributions to the youth in the area through activities outside the classroom including - for more than 20 years - taking her students on a tour of historic Boston. And, close to the hearts of Kiwanians was her work as faculty advisor to the Gainesville High School Key Club for many years.

The award was presented at the Kiwanis Club's annual banquet Tuesday night at Chattahoochee Country Club.