IRVING, Texas (Aug. 10, 2012) - One of Irving City Hall's former stars, Connie Gifford-Herrington, received the Irving High Spirited Citizen (HSC) award, presented to her on Thursday, Aug. 9, by Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne and the Irving City Council.

Gifford-Herrington bears a well-known face to Irving City Hall, due to 20-plus years working in the City Manager's office before retiring in 2000. Since then, she chooses to spend her retirement years bettering the city, dedicating many hours to volunteering within the community, while mirroring perfectly the profile of an Irving HSC.

Her stardom doesn't end at City Hall. An active member of First United Methodist Church of Irving, Gifford-Herrington serves on the Administrative Board and Futures Committee. She served as Sunshine Chairman of her Sunday School Class; faithfully makes hospital visits to church members; was instrumental in developing the church's College and Career Class; and makes calls to both first-time church visitors and those who have been absent.

Also at First Methodist, Gifford-Herrington chairs the Adult Education Work Area Committee, which annually awards the Myrtle Beard Scholarship to one graduating senior from the church and recognizes teachers in September for Education Month.

Gifford-Herrington filled many roles in the Irving Book Review Club, including Telephone Committee chair and first vice president. For the third consecutive year, she serves as the Book Club's corresponding secretary, a position she also holds with the Irving Heritage Society.

An ambassador at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Gifford-Herrington greets and assists the public by serving as an usher for Irving Community Theatre, Lyric Stage and the Entertainment Series of Irving. During the school year, she helps students at Barton Elementary School improve their reading skills and works with the Salvation Army to provide toys for underprivileged children during the holidays.

The High Spirited Citizen program was initiated in 1988 by the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau. Its purpose is to encourage the spirit of volunteerism. To date, more than 400 of Irving's "unsung" heroes have been honored with the award.

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