For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: October 27, 2005

2005 George Maddox Award Presented to Mary Bethel

RALEIGH: The George W. Maddox Award was presented to Mary Bethel at the 2005 North Carolina Conference on Aging held in New Bern on Oct.19.

“Mary Bethel is a legend in her own time,” said Karen Gottovi, director of the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). “Looking back on the almost 30 years that she spent at the division, one can hardly name a program or service that she hasn’t influenced or been directly involved with. She is the consummate professional. Her passion and expertise, her zeal for helping individuals and organizations, and her boundless energy to keep up the good fight make her one of the most respected voices in North Carolina on aging issues.

“Mary’s legacy is evident across the state, from the skilled and effective workforce in the aging network and collaborating organizations; to the well-trained volunteers in the Senior Tarheel Legislature and Senior Games. She played a key role in helping craft many State Aging Services Plans that have guided progressive legislation and programming for the past two decades including such key legislative efforts as the Nursing Home and Domiciliary Home Residents Bill of Rights, the Senior Care Prescription Assistance Program, the Long Term Care Task Force, and the development of Health Promotion and Disease prevention programs. Mary has been a leader on numerous coalitions, task forces, board and commissions. It would be very difficult to find anyone in the field of aging in North Carolina over the past three decades who has not learned from, interacted with, or partnered with Mary Bethel.”

In her final position in DAAS, which she has held for over 10 years, Bethel served as the manager of Consumer Assistance and Advocacy. She served as the staff support to the Senior Tar Heel Legislature and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging. She was the liaison to other advocacy and consumer groups throughout the state. She tracked legislation affecting seniors, dispersed it to all the groups above, and explained the significance of the proposed legislation. She was also the major contact for the division with special population issues, such as, deaf and hard of hearing, mental illness, blind, and other disabilities. Bethel also served as the division’s contact with Senior Games.

“Mary’s energy, sense of humor, expertise and work ethic all contribute to people wanting Mary to be on any team they put together,” Gottovi said. “She is an invaluable resource, a trusted friend and colleague and a model public servant. We have all been blessed to work with her.”

The Maddox Award is one of three awards presented each year to individuals, organizations or communities that have excelled in meeting the needs of older citizens in the state. Given by the Division of Aging in the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the awards are the Dr. Ewald W. Busse Award and the Ernest B. Messer Award along with the Maddox Award. Drs. Maddox and Busse and Messer were three pioneers in the field of aging in North Carolina.

Dr. Maddox currently directs Duke University’s Long Term Care Resources Program. The Maddox Award is presented each year for excellence in developing and implementing creative programs for older adults.

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