The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Abel named Volunteer of the Year
UTICA, N.Y. >> The Oneida County History Center has named George Abel 2018 Volunteer of the Year.
Volunteers such as Abel are vital to the daily operation and long-termcare of the History Center. This honor was announced during the annual Hall of Fame and Living Legends Awards Banquet on Oct. 3. Abel was chosen by his co-volunteers, History Center staff, and the Board of Trustees.
Abel was born in Utica, N.Y., and spent his childhood on the family farm in Colemans Mills, a small hamlet near Oriskany. He attended Oriskany schools and his favorite subject was history. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1960 and served four years on the USS Constellation. Upon return, Abel moved to Utica and immediately began to work for Indium Corporation, where he spent 40 years as a roll mill operator. He joined the History Center as a volunteer after his retirement from Indium because he was looking for something to do and wanted to become
more involved in the community.
Abel volunteers at the History Center five days a week and serves as the organization’s bookstore manager, a position he has held for 13 years. He also happily greets guests visiting the exhibit gallery, answers phones, and offers free local history lessons to anyone willing to listen. As a Utica resident for more than 30 years, he enjoys offering suggestions to out of town guests on other lo- cal attractions. His favorite part of the job is interacting with like-minded people who love history.
An avid reader, genealogical researcher, and practitioner of marquetry, Abel is also involved with First Presbyterian Church. He serves as head usher, previously served as a moderator for the board of deacons, and is responsible for the church’s security alarm, answering potential alerts at all hours of the day.
For more information, contact the History Center at 315-735- 3642 or visit www.oneidacountyhistory.org.