Club Meeting – April 2nd, 2015

Today James W. McAden, known to his fellow Rotarians as “Jim”, was presented the Roy W. Henrickson Outstanding Citizen Award.  Since 1957 the Rotary Club of Salem has honored 52 individuals for their contributions to the Roanoke Valley region.

Given Jim’s long relationship with many in the Club (member since 1984, Club President 1992-93) the award luncheon was as much a “roast” of Jim as it was a recognition of his many accomplishments in our community and his dedicated service to our Club.

Jim’s dedication to service as a way of life was ingrained in his childhood by his missionary parents whose service to those in need in South America led to Jim being born outside the United States.  Fortunately Jim settled back in the Roanoke Valley where he and his wife Mary Ann have raised four daughters.  Among friends and family attending the award luncheon were Jim’s father “the Right Reverend Bob McAden” and Jim’s six month old grand daughter Wesley.

A Randolph-Macon education prepared Jim for his success in the business world as President of Balzer and Associates for the last 20 years.  His early years in Latin America made him a soccer nut, which led to his helping found youth soccer in the Roanoke Valley. He still kicks it around in a “x” years and older league.

Jim’s involvement in the community beyond that of Rotary is extensive, including the American Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Western Community College just to name a few.

Jim McAden is deserving of this year’s Outstanding Citizen award.  Our Club members are appreciative of his contributions to the region and grateful to have had Jim as a member of the Rotary Club of Salem for over thirty years.