By GARY PULEO
Times Herald Staff

UPPER MERION — They came to honor a cosmetic surgeon, a newspaperman and a retiring senator, co-mingling in the elegant setting of Dolce Valley Forge Hotel in King Prussia on Thursday evening.

Over platters of slenderized chicken breast and a smattering of green beans, friends, family and colleagues of Dr. Marlene Mash, Times Herald Editor Stan Huskey and state Sen. Connie Williams, D-17th Dist., celebrated — along with hosts Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce — the highlights of each individual’s career.

Introducing Williams, Senator-elect Daylin Leach called her an “inspiration and mentor, and the first Democrat to represent Montgomery County since the Civil War.”

“She has done amazing work,” Leach noted, who said that when he was campaigning he quickly learned how much “everyone in the district just worships Sen. Williams.”

“In these times when people are often cynical, it makes people feel good about their government, that their public servant is actually doing honest work on their behalf. And no one exemplifies that more than Sen. Williams,” said Leach.

Accepting her Special Recognition Award, Williams said the event marked her last formal night as senator, citing her Nov. 30 retirement.

“I’m delighted to have this as my last hurrah,” she said.

As the pumpkin cheesecake dessert was being served, J.P. Mascaro III took the stage in his capacity as Huskey’s presenter, recalling how the two first met in the early 1990s.

At the outset of Mascaro’s budding legal career, he “learned that the best way to get your name in the newspaper was to make friends with a newspaper reporter. So I did with Stan and many of his colleagues that were following the courthouse.”

When he found out several weeks ago that he would be handing an Outstanding Citizen award to Huskey, Mascaro called editor right away.

“I told him I wouldn’t embarrass him if he can answer one question: ‘Did you know an NFL game could end in a tie?’”

Huskey shot back that yes, he was aware of that fact, Mascaro pointed out, as the crowd chuckled.

Detailing highlights of Huskey’s career in journalism, Mascaro noted his various positions at The Times Herald, including city editor.

Among Huskey’s awards, Mascaro noted, are a first place award for column writing and a second place award for editorial writing in the 2008 Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editor awards.

Leading Huskey’s achievements being recognized by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce are his membership on the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Board of Directors and the Norristown Rotary Board of Directors, as well as his presidency of the Montgomery County Child Victims Fund.

“It’s been a great ride so far,” Huskey said. “I love what I do for a living. I’m a pretty lucky guy. I have a great publisher, Shelley Meenan. She encourages me to get out into the community.”

Huskey also credited Managing Editor Gordon Glantz’s role in the newsroom, “steering the ship” when he’s not around.

Among family members who were on hand to share in Huskey’s night of distinction were wife Sue, son Ben and stepson Tyler.

Huskey remembered the beginnings of the Walk through the Park, held every May at Norristown Farm Park, which coincided with his introduction to Norristown Ambassador Hank Cisco.

“He had just beaten cancer,” Huskey said, recalling how Cisco was annoyed that he had had to travel to Philadelphia for his treatments instead of working toward his cure locally.

The men collaborated to launch the annual walk, which has raised more than $10,000 each year for the Montgomery Hospital Cancer Center.

Another of Huskey’s ideas, a pork sandwich contest, resulted in a $3,000 college scholarship going to a Norristown student this year.

“There are so many people in this room that sit on so many committees with me … so many outstanding citizens that I’m honored to be numbered among them,” he said.

Mash was the second recipient of an Outstanding Citizen award.

As her program biography stated, for nearly 20 years Mash has been one of the region’s leaders in offering the latest cosmetic and medical procedures with state-of-the-art medical techniques, equipment and care.

Mash called the acknowledgement “unbelievable,” adding that she was “so honored.”

She took the opportunity to remind the audience that she provides free cancer screenings in her Plymouth Meeting office.

“A lot of people don’t know that, so if anybody knows anyone who needs this, I’m there for them.”

Gary Puleo can be reached at 610-272-2500, ext. 205, or at gpuleo@timesherald.com.