This community servant and family matriarch is “remarkable by anyone’s standards”
To the Town of Scio Board,
I would like to formally nominate Martha I. Roberts of 5026 County Road 31 for the 2025 Scio Citizen of the year. Any of you who have talked with her have probably heard her speech that she is a “transplant”, but she has been in Scio just short of 6 decades. Her and her husband moved to Scio in 1968 and bought the farm she still resides at on Middaugh Hill. They raised two boys, Don who also still resides on Middaugh Hill and Charlie.
The sheer volume of ways Martha has impacted the community of Scio as well as Allegany County (Please see below) is remarkable by anyone’s standards. Her impacts cover all walks of life and all ages of residents. Most recently at the age of 85 (now 87) she volunteered on the Bicentennial committee and was an active participant. (I am not 100% sure, but she was one of the oldest if not the oldest on the committee) She is also very active with the Scio Methodist Church supporting events each year like the Cruise and Cream held every August.
A couple things that have stuck in my mind that makes Martha a worthy recipient of Citizen of the year. One is whenever Ryan Burdick (Well-known Scio Alumni Who Sings/Plays guitar but resides in another part of the state now) is home and performs at things like the Scio Bicentennial celebration, Scio Lions concerts, the stage at the Allegany County fair and more. He always gets applause from the crowd when saying” It always feels like home when I perform and see Martha Roberts”. She gave him his first chance to perform many years earlier at the Allegany County fair. I think this really supports how the community views her and what she has done for Scio. Secondly is the impact she has had on myself (and many others over the years) to get out and volunteer to help the community. It is contagious after watching what she has done to not want to volunteer. Myself, I volunteered on the Bicentennial committee and have joined the Scio Lions club because of her positive influence. I appreciate your time and consideration for this nomination and look forward to your decision.
Things Martha has been a part of benefiting the Scio community:
– Scio School Board for 20 years and 4 years as president
– Allegany County Agricultural Society (County Fair) 45 years total, 20 Years on Board as president, 15 years as fair manager
– Cooperative Extension Board for 9 years in many capacities including president
– 4H Club Leader for 9 years
– 2023 Scio Bicentennial Celebration Committee
– Scio United Methodist Church, active member for many years
Sincerely,
Martha’s Grandson
Gregory Roberts
