Attorney General Darrell McGraw honored Elder Watch volunteer Sylvia Watkins at the AARP Reverse Boiler Room in Charleston on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of AARP)
Attorney General Darrell McGraw presented Sylvia Watkins with the 2008 Consumer Protection Hero Award. McGraw awards The Consumer Protection Hero Award each year to an individual that is devoted to serving their community by raising the awareness for consumer protection. (Photo courtesy of AARP)
Watkins
CHARLESTON – Attorney General Darrell McGraw honored Elder Watch volunteer Sylvia Watkins at the AARP Reverse Boiler Room in Charleston on Wednesday.
McGraw presented Watkins with the 2008 Consumer Protection Hero Award. McGraw awards The Consumer Protection Hero Award each year to an individual that is devoted to serving their community by raising the awareness for consumer protection.
"Ms. Watkins has been a volunteer for Elder Watch since the program launched in 2006," McGraw said.
Elder Watch is a consumer protection program formed by the partnership between AARP and the state Attorney General's Office. Consumers over the age of 50 whom contact the Consumer Protection number at 1-800-368-8808 are assisted by Elder Watch volunteers that assist consumers in the completion of the consumer protection complaint.
"The volunteers at Elder Watch are the driving force behind Elder Watch's success in assisting consumers," McGraw said. "We are here today to recognize Ms. Watkins as the 2008, Consumer Protection Hero. Ms. Watkins is a dedicated volunteer for Elder Watch and she has been a volunteer at Elder Watch since the program was launched in 2006.
"Ms. Watkins was born in and attended public schools in Bluefield, W.Va. She attended Bluefield State College, Morehead (Ky.) University and graduated from Appalachian Regional Hospital School of Professional Nursing in Harlan, Ky.
She joined, spent 20 years in and retired from the United States Air Force. She was a Flight Nurse in Vietnam and spent the majority of her Air Force career in Nursing Administration. Immediately after retirement she was recruited to assist in establishing a hospital for the Security Forces in Saudi Arabia," stated Attorney General McGraw.
"She returned to West Virginia in 1987 to work for WVDHHR as a Health Facility Surveyor and Qualified Mental Retardation Professional," McGraw said. "She retired from that job in the year of 2000 and has since been volunteering to empower and enhance the lives of the people in her community.
"Ms. Watkins record of achievement, and commitment to public service provides an extraordinary example of the difference that volunteerism can make in the lives of individuals and in the well being and vitality of a community. Her strong work ethic motivates others to join her contribution to humanity and to strengthening consumer protection.
"Ms. Watkins, on behalf of the West Virginia Attorney General's office and concerned consumers, I would like to recognize you for your selfless service to your community, state and nation. To recognize your honorary achievements I am proud to present you with the Consumer Protection Hero Award of 2008. Thank you on behalf of all Consumers in West Virginia."