The trustees of The Salisbury Award presented Salisbury’s top honor to Marty Neat at his retirement event, held in December at the Wicomico Civic Center.

In addition to presenting a plaque to memorialize the selection, the trustees will donate $500 to a nonprofit organization chosen by the honoree. 

The Salisbury Award is the community’s oldest and most prestigious independent civic award. First given in 1926, the award was established and originally endowed by local businessman G. William Phillips to recognize “service that has been the greatest benefit to the happiness, prosperity, intellectual advancement or moral growth of the community.”

Neat is being recognized for his 40 years of service to our community.

His passion for the community is evident in the many organizations he has committed his time to over the years to include Wor-Wic Community College, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, the Greater Salisbury Committee, Community Foundation of the Eastern SHore, the Richard Henson YMCA, The Magi Fund, Salisbury Zoo and Salisbury Neighborhood Housing – just to highlight a few. 

This ceremony marks the 71st time The Salisbury Award has been presented to an individual or an organization since the award’s inception.

Previous honorees include James M. Bennett, Avery Hall, Richard Henson, Frank Perdue, Dick Hazel, Sam Seidel, Paul Martin, Virginia Layfield, Mitzi Perdue, Lewis Riley, Pete Cooper, George Whitehead, Tony Sarbanes, Bill Ahtes, Ben’s Red Swings, and The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, The Magi Fund, Norm Conway, Bob Cook, The Greater Salisbury Committee, The Fruitland Community Center, Perdue Farms, The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wicomico Rotary Club. 

To learn more about The Salisbury Award and its history, including a list of all the honorees since 1926, please visit the award’s Facebook page.