Cam Williams, a longtime volunteer with the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society shelter and a current GMHS board member, was recently presented with the J. Ralph Jackson Award, which recognizes an individual “whose contributions to the society have been so exemplary and strategic that the GMHS might not exist in its current form without them,” a news release from the organization stated.

The presentation was made during the GMHS Family Fun Day, held at the shelter on Jackson Lane in Gloucester on May 21.

According to the release, Williams has been transformational in building the board, leading the capital campaign, planning GMHS events and “in showing us that hard work and a smile can usually overcome anything and persuade anyone.”

The Jackson Award commemorates the contributions made by J. Ralph Jackson, who led the research, planning, value engineering and construction management of the animal care facility the GMHS now occupies, the release said. A number o...