Former Elizabethtown Mayor David Willmoth Jr., who served three terms from 1999 to 2010, had his name etched into a piece of city property to honor his work.
In a Friday afternoon ceremony, the pavilion at the Elizabethtown Nature Park along Ring Road was dedicated to Willmoth for his years of service to the city.
Willmoth was instrumental in the development of the nature park itself including purchasing the land, along with the development of the Elizabethtown Sports Park. Willmoth also served on the Elizabethtown City Council from 1973 to 1998.
Friends, family and various city and county officials attended the event to celebrate the dedication.
Within the park pavilion, it now says “David Willmoth Jr. Pavilion” above the fireplace, along with a dedication plaque that’s nearby that chronicles Willmoth’s work and accomplishments.
Willmoth also has a street named after him, Willmoth Way, near the sports park. However, until Friday, he was the only recent mayor to not have a piece of property named after them.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the pavilion, which had been unnamed since its opening in 2012, was the most fitting structure to put Willmoth’s name on.
“His fingerprints on everything and he’s exceptionally important to what we’ve done in the past,” Gregory said.
Willmoth spoke to those in attendance after the dedication of the pavilion. He said he had to give credit to the councils he has worked and late Mayor James R. Pritchard.
“The whole thing boils down to, ‘What are you doing to make it better for the future?’ ” he said about when he worked for the city with his council members.
City Councilman Marty Fulkerson said at the event that the wisdom and advice that he learned from Willmoth is still utilized by him today.
“We’re very proud as a city to be able to honor you for all of your hard work, time and dedication,” he said.