Long-time Gloucester educator and Gloucester Fair Association volunteer Stanley McMullen will be recognized next week for his years of service to the community as Gloucester County Fair’s 2011 honoree.

Stanley McMullen

"Mr. Mac," as he was called by local school children for many years, said he joined the fair association in 1973. He mentioned working with long-time Gloucester Extension agent Freedom Goode and volunteers Rachael Burnette and Sue Oliver, who he said were the three main people who held the fair together in the early years. "Those were the good old days," he said.\

McMullen served in numerous capacities during his time with the fair. He was its treasurer for a number of years and said he signed the check for the Ark Park property, which is the fair’s new home. He was also a judge of farm products for many years.

At times, McMullen said he worked himself to death setting up for the fair, but all of his efforts were worth it. "The idea of meeting people and working with them was really a great experience," McMullen said.

He even recruited his students at times to help clean the fairgrounds and paint some of the old buildings.

When notified recently by the Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department that he was going to be honored, McMullen said he was "all surprised."

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