Michelle Henderson, an attorney in Richmond Hill, describes her association with Angus McLeod, this year's winner of the DeVaul Henderson Award.

Q: Please describe your community involvement.

A: I’ve practiced in the Richmond Hill area since 1983, and we opened our office here in 1986. I’m a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlantic Judicial Bar Association, past chairman of the Bryan County Republican Party, founding member and founding past president of Rotary Club of Richmond Hill, member of Richmond Hill United Methodist Church, past board member and past chairman of Richmond Hill/Bryan County Chamber of Commerce.

Q: When did you first meet Angus McLeod?

A: I met Angus shortly after we opened the office in Richmond Hill. He came by to pick me up to take me to see some sights. We went to Barefoot Betty’s for lunch. I was a bit overdressed for the occasion. I don’t know why I remember, but I had on a pink suit pearls and white hose! We had sandwiches and a “Coke cola” from the cooler. …

Q: What do you feel he has brought to the community?   

A: Angus loves this community, and I think he shares the vision that we all have to work together to make this a great place to live and work.

Q: For those who do not know, what is the significance of the DeVaul Henderson Award?

A: Dee died in 1998. Shortly thereafter, the Chamber instituted the award in his memory, and the first award was given at the annual meeting in 1999. Dee had always practiced in Savannah, but when we moved to Richmond Hill in 1989, he literally threw himself into the community with everything from service on boards to rec ball coaching to Chamber of Commerce to church and county attorney. If he wasn’t spending time with his kids, he was doing something in the community — and sometimes both!

Q: What made McLeod such a great candidate for the DeVaul Henderson award this year?

A: I think that Angus shared Dee’s love for Richmond Hill and everything about it. The vision to make this not only a great place to live, but one in which there is economic and social opportunity so that future generations will want to return here to make this their home and raise their families — as we have done. Sometimes, service isn’t just sitting in a meeting or belonging to organizations. Service can be wanting what’s best for the collective good of the community and being willing to take risks and push the envelope to make it happen.