Marcolin named seniors' volunteer of the year

The members of the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center honored their "Volunteer of the Year" Tuesday night.

Felix Marcolin, 78, was described as a "person who makes himself available 24/7'" to help other people.

Seniors President Birdie Hensley stated that Marcolin does everything at the senior center, and more, and he was an easy selection.

Marcolin was named "Volunteer of the year" in 2006 by The Star newspaper.

The center held a contest to single out one volunteer for the top choice. It is the first year that seniors have recognized one of their members for the honor.

About 80 signed up to attend the special dinner.

"Anytime there is a task, Felix is the first person they go to for help," Hensley said.

He is known for being a Mr. Fix-it, making repairs, running errands, filling in for someone when they are away, Hensley noted.

Tuesday morning even found him carrying in trays of the free bread that is offered at the center, and helping to arrange tables for his own event last night.

That willingness to work is a lifelong habit that has served him well. Marcolin stated Tuesday that he never had to look for a job, they found him.

He had a 32-year career in education, starting in Twin Falls, Idaho, and ending here just a year after the two districts, Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam, consolidated.

Marcollin hails from Kellogg, Idaho, and has his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Idaho.

He remembers those days well, with the likes of Jerry Kramer and Wayne Walker, two outstanding football players there at the same time. Kramer went on to Green Bay Packer fame and Walker was with the Detroit Lions.

In Kellogg, it was the days of the Bunker Hill Mines, with the city bustling and jobs galore.

After his bachelor's degree days at Idaho, Felix took a teaching job at a junior high school in Twin Falls, Idaho, for three years, then a stint in the army took him to Korea.

He remembers being at the Demilitarized Zone in the cold of winter, the war over, but still with the job of keeping a wary eye on North Korea.

In 1963, Felix came to Almira where he taught three years, and then a year at Odessa, before coming to a position here in 1967. He served as principal of the high school for a number of years.

"The salary in Washington was about 50 percent higher than in Idaho schools," he remembers.

He was a counselor at both Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam schools for a year and then continued when they consolidated.

"There was a lot of feeling about consolidation then, and some continues today," he noted.

Jobs have never been a problem with the senior volunteer. "I have always had two or more jobs." he stated.

Felix served 27 summers as a tour guide at the Bureau of Reclamation's Visitor Center.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, have both been active at the Senior Center. He has been a volunteer there for the past 15 years.

The special dinner last night also honored a large number of other volunteers.