FARMINGTON – Gilbert and Betsy Riley of Wilton received this year’s Rotary Senior Vocational Service Award. It is given each year to a person or persons for sharing wisdom and leadership through a long-term commitment to our communities through dedication to business, community volunteerism, work ethics and honest character.

The Rileys moved to Farmington in 1989 which they had visited in 1981 as part of a work team from the Wilton, Conn., Presbyterian Church.

In 1992, Betsy organized “Safe Visitors for Families at Risk,” as a support group for the families that Gil was helping to build houses for. Her ideas with “Safe Visitors” was to train volunteers to support families at risk. This program has been highly successful and continues today, with over 75 volunteers trained by Betsy, according to Rev. Scott Planting of the Fairbanks Union Church.

Also, for the past 10 years, Betsy has also been a hospice volunteer with Androscoggin Home Health Association; and, since 2006, has led a bi-weekly community bereavement group

From 1991-98, Gil, utilizing his engineering background, was the coordinator of North Parish Housing Ministry, The Mission at the Eastward’s low income housing rehabilitation ministry, providing engineering, planning, management and building skills. When a federal grant became available to promote small business in the Franklin County area, Gil became a coordinator in a project to promote local products and sales. Initially a summer weekend market, the project ultimately became the forerunner of the Farmers Market that is now held on Front Street in Farmington.

For over 10 years, Gil has also been very active as a volunteer in the pre-engineering class at Mt. Blue High School. He has been of great value to the electric car program there, which has won many national honors. He has also been a Red Cross volunteer and has continued to be active on committees at The Mission at the Eastward.

He and Betsy have four grown children: Bart, Jeff, Lynn and Scott, which include an engineer, an architect, a business entrepreneur and a teacher, the latter working overseas in Singapore. The have 12 grandchildren.