LEXINGTON — Locals now have another way to remember the late Sam Wade and Barb Titus.
An elm and maple tree were planted in their honor Friday during an Arbor Day ceremony at Lexington Community Park.
Wade worked as a police officer for the Lexington Police Department for over 25 years.
“Sam was one of my field training officers in 1992,” said Lexington Chief of Police Brett Pauley. “Back in 1996 when he left department, he promised me that if I ever became chief he’d come back part-time. Well I became chief in 2003 and he was my first call. He held true to his promise–he came back in 2003 and worked for me part-time.
“I really miss Sam. He definitely was a huge impact in my life as a police officer.”
Titus was a longtime Lexington resident who served on a number of committees, including the Light Up Lexington committee and the tree commission.
“She was just a very community-minded person, and she also had a huge heart” Carol Parkison said.
Mary Sue Cooper, a member of the tree commission, worked with Titus to get trees planted along West Main Street.
“When I saw them in bloom these last couple days, I thought of Barb,” Cooper said.
Mayor Eugene Parkison said a few nice words about Titus and Wade, noting, “We’re proud to have called them friends.”
Lexington has carried the distinction of “Tree City USA” since 1985. According to Village Administrator Andrew Smallstey, there are only 10 other communities that have received this recognition for a longer period of time.
In order to receive this designation, communities must have a legally constituted tree commission, a community tree ordinance that provides regulations and guidance in the management of street trees, a comprehensive community forestry program for the management of trees on public property and an annual ceremony for the recognition of Arbor Day.
Third graders from Western Elementary School attended Friday’s ceremony and helped shovel soil on the newly planted trees at Lexington Community Park.
“Hopefully years from now you can come and sit under these trees and say, ‘I was here the day they planted those,'” Eugene Parkison told the students.
After the ceremony, students remained to help clean up litter at the park.
