Wayne County Commissioner Kevin McNamara of Van Buren Township was honored Oct. 25 with the Patron Award from the Wayne County Council for Arts, History & Humanities.
The 15th annual recognition awards gathering was at Marygrove College.
Presenting McNamara with the award was WCCAHH vice president Barbara Rogalle Miller of Van Buren Township.
She said McNamara is an enthusiastic supporter of regional cultural events and organizations. She said his focus is on roads, parks, youth services, senior programs and the County Art Authority.
Miller said the Wayne County arts council is grateful for McNamara’s consistent and generous support.
She said Wayne County had cut the arts council loose without any funding at all because of budget problems.
McNamara invited the group to have an art auction at his annual fundraiser for more than 600 people that brought several thousand dollars into the WCCAHH.
“Kevin’s generosity restabilized us,” Miller said.
She pointed out that McNamara’s father, Edward McNamara, established the Wayne County arts council.
Kevin McNamara was a prime mover on the Wayne County Art Authority which helped to save the DIA, said Miller who also is a member of the Authority board.
Miller said one of the council’s next projects is to have a display of Wayne County artists at the Wayne County Airport. McNamara recently was appointed to the airport board of directors.
McNamara was elected Wayne County Commissioner for District 11 in November 2006. He was reelected in November 2010 and is again running for reelection on Nov. 6. When District 11 was redesigned, he moved from Canton to Van Buren Township to stay in his district.
District 11 includes the townships of Sumpter and Van Buren, along with the City of Belleville.
McNamara is a graduate of Livonia Stevenson High School and earned an Associate’s degree in math and science. He is married to Aida and they have two children, Cullan and Jamie.