2009 Hometown Spirit Award Nominee:
Judy Edwards

Nominated by: J. Marc Edwards and Lynn Merkle, who both state on the nomination form:

"Judy Edwards is a Cary citizen that has exemplified the true “hometown spirit” of Cary. As a former resident of Boca Raton, FL, Judy moved to Cary 14 years ago, in 1995, and ever since that time she has grown to love Cary as a native daughter. After retirement from Cisco Systems in 1999 to focus on raising her son, George, Judy became a Realtor.

Judy has become a neighborhood celebrity within the Carramore subdivision, where she offers advice to neighborhood homeowners on home improvement, staging, and landscaping, while working in conjunction with the Carramore Homeowner Association. It was through Judy’s advocacy that the Carramore Neighborhood Watch program was established after a rash of home break-ins in the Cary community. One of the break-ins actually occurred at Judy’s next-door neighbor’s home when only the family’s teenage daughter was at home alone. As the daughter ran from her home during the break-in, Judy could see the daughter in distress, admonished her to come into her home for safety and then proceeded to call 911. Within the hour, the burglar had been apprehended by the Cary police.

Judy is very friendly, freely talking to anyone she meets and prides herself as an “ambassador” of praise for the Cary community’s nationally-recognized reputation. Judy is a Gold-level, business sponsor for the Green Hope High School Booster Club. She enjoys attending the home football games at Green Hope High School and can hold her own with Tom O’Brien, when talking the X’s and O’s of the game. Judy has always championed the slower growth initiatives for Cary, and she participated in the Wake Cares’ community-information initiatives. Judy has aligned herself with City Council campaigns advocating citizen-oriented growth policies.

Judy is the local PTA chairperson/key fundraiser for the Davis Drive Middle School (DDMS) “Spirit Wear” program, a DDMS Odyssey of the Mind® parent-volunteer, as well as a catechist at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Her attention to small businesses and attendance at local community events keeps Judy “in the know” on commercial and residential activities in Cary. Judy will continue to do whatever it takes to make Cary the #1, mid-size town in America. She can always be counted on to wear her hometown spirit on her sleeve."