City of Elkins honors ‘Extra Mile Heroes’
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ELKINS -- Three Elkins locals, including an Elkins Police Department lieutenant, were honored as this year's Extra Mile Heroes by Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco recently.
Elkins' 2025 Extra Mile Heroes honorees are Markie Jeffries, Lieutenant Christopher Boatwright and Bob Cowgill. All three men were honored in a ceremony at the Phil Gainer Community Center on Dec. 10.
According to a release from the City of Elkins, Jeffries is a PEER recovery support specialist who works closely with the Elkins Police Department "to help those suffering with addiction get the help they need."
Boatwright, according to the City, is "very dedicated" to his job and works every day to help people in this community and "make Elkins a safer place to live."
Cowgill, 88, has been serving with Operation Christmas Child since 1997, the City said in their release. He has served as the Area Network Coordinator for the program for 21 years, covering Randolph, Pocahontas, Webster, Upshur, Tucker and Barbour counties.
Extra Mile America, the organization coordinating this program, has previously said that the purpose of Extra Mile Day is to celebrate the capacity everyone has to create positive change in their families, organizations and communities by "going the extra mile."
Extra Mile America coordinates and promotes Extra Mile Day and the Extra Mile Hero Awards. The organization challenges people and organizations to do more than just wish for change, to go the extra mile in heart, mind and action.
Last year's Extra Mile Heroes honorees were Warriors in the Field founder Dave Whittaker, Bill Pingley and Marshall Howser, both of whom are chefs for the Lunch with Neighbors program at First United Methodist Church.
Elkins' previous Extra Mile Heroes include:
-- Michael Parlock, a law and public safety instructor at Randolph Technical Center;
-- Dave Vandenbergh, who has volunteered at Davis Medical Center since 2016 and has donated more than 1,200 hours of service helping community members navigate the hospital;
-- Pat Lewis, a community volunteer who helps families in need and "works hard with area parents and collects donations for children at Christmas time to make sure less-provided children are taken care of";
-- Chad Ware, who "worked tirelessly to keep our town safe during the COVID-19 pandemic";
-- Rev. Jeremiah Jasper and Mike Brooks, who "worked hard during the pandemic and before to ensure that the weekly Common Ground Meals at the Woodford Memorial UMC never stopped";
-- Our Town and its group of volunteers, who are "constantly working to improve the Elkins area by celebrating the arts, promoting community-building activities, and organizing public festivals and entertainment events";
-- Citizens Promoting Community, a group of "like-minded citizens" whose goal is to create community through events and fundraising;
-- and Missy McCollam, the director of The Old Brick Playhouse in Elkins, who "serves with love and compassion for people of all ages, making sure they know that 'everyone is different, and everyone is important.'"