ADAMS TWP — Moving outdoors to accommodate the number of residents who attended Monday night's meeting, supervisors celebrated the life of a former community member.

Donald Aiken, who served for more than 40 years as a township supervisor, died last week at the age of 88.

“We want to honor our past chairman,” said Russell Ford, current chairman. “He had been an Adams Township supervisor for 47 years.”

Aiken also served in the National Guard and was a member of the Adams Area Fire District, Ford said. In 2019, he was named Martian of the Year.

“I'm sorry to hear that Donnie passed on,” said Ed Vogel, a supervisor who served with Aiken for many years on the board. “He certainly helped to make this (township) what it is today.”

“I knew Donnie for a long time,” said Linda Lees, a supervisor who also worked with Aiken. “There will never be another supervisor (like) Donnie Aiken.”

Ford said in his 55 years of living in Adams Township, he hasn't encountered someone who loved the township as much as Aiken. Citing Aiken's work as a township leader and the decisions he made over the years, Ford said Aiken was a mentor when he was first elected to the board 12 years ago.

“He will be dearly missed,” Ford told the Aiken family, who was present during the meeting. “(He was) just a wonderful asset to this township.”

Clay Morrow, who was elected as a supervisor in 2019, said he admired Aiken. Morrow said since first meeting him about 30 years ago during a subdivision process, he's always thought of him as “Mr. Aiken.”

“I don't think I've ever called him anything else but that,” Morrow said. “I found him to be very respectful.”

Gary Peaco, township manager, said his professional experience with Aiken began many years ago. From Aiken, Peaco said he learned about the values township leaders strive to hold.

Aiken's decisions weren't always right, according to Peaco. But he said they were always made with the right things in mind.

“His intentions were always good,” Peaco said. “This township would not be where it's at if it wasn't for him.”

“Don was part of the establishment that really saw a future here at Adams,” said Ron Shemela, vice president of the supervisor.