When someone first meets Scott, he appears to be quiet and low key. But as you get to know him and chat a little, it becomes apparent that he is anything but low key. He clearly thinks before he talks and resonates with a sense of purpose. He also displays a pretty good sense of humor.

The Lawrence family has been part of the Wilmington landscape for generations. Scott has lived in Wilmington his entire life, except for a stint in the United States Marine Corps.

His military commitment took him to places such as Okinawa, Japan and Korea. Of course, this was after completing boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina. He also served at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Scott was in the Marines for four years. His service to country did not stop there. In 2009, he joined the Air Force Reserves. Staff Sgt. E-5 Lawrence is currently stationed in Burlington, Vermont part time and helps keep the nation’s F-35 stealth fighters in the air.

Besides being our Highway Department mechanic and holding a commercial driver’s license, Scott has assisted with many creative additions to Wilmington.

Many of us drive right by the very things he made or helped create without even knowing it. For example, there’s the over-sized bike in the center of town by the bridge and library. Scott made it using scrap metal from around the highway shed. This bike has now become a must stop for locals and visitors for photographs.

Scott also helped make the chairlift bench by the town sign located in the parking lot of the dam impoundment area. He has just finished another chairlift bench that will be placed by our town offices. The addition of the chairlift benches is an attempt by the town officials to bring more recognition of Wilmington being the home of the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center (not Lake Placid). Scott’s creativity and welding skills have added to this effort.

Even with Scott working full time for the town, serving in the Air Force Reserves and doing typical family activities, he finds time to keep himself healthy. Once a cigarette smoker, he changed his lifestyle and started walking, which led to jogging and a journey of completing several marathons. Although not doing marathons anymore, he is a member of team Placid Planet and is active in cycling. Without a doubt, this lifestyle helps him pass his yearly physical fitness test for the reserves with ease.

At age 51, he has been married to his wife Heather for 27 years. They have two children as well. Scott is a graduate of the AuSable Valley High School.

The town of Wilmington is very fortunate to have a person like Scott working as part of our team. With 13 years of service to our community, he has become a true example of the “Wilmington Way.”

(Roy Holzer is the Wilmington town supervisor.)