BY PAT FARNELLI

With 52 years as an Elk Lake School Director Arden Tewksbury is the longest serving school director in Pennsylvania’s history.

Tewksbury was honored at the Thursday, Nov. 21, board meeting by Pennsylvania School Board Association representative Larry Breech.

Breech said he customarily recognizes members who have served for eight or more years. In the Aliquippa and Bedford districts, there are school directors who have served for 42 years; and in Bangor and St. Clair, there are two that have served for 46, but that in the history of the state, there has never been a school director with a 52 year service.

“Think of all the lives he’s touched over the years,” Breech said. “I have known and worked with Arden for 30 years, and he has been an ardent supporter of those he represents, whether in the school district or the dairy industry or the community.”

Tewksbury has served with every superintendent that Elk Lake has ever had.

He has been involved in the district since it opened its doors in 1957, and officiated at the first high school basketball game shortly thereafter.
He has been a school board member since 1961.

Board member Eric Emmerich was also honored Thursday for serving as director for 20 years.

Emmerich noted that he is the new PSATs representative for the district and Intermediate Unit 16.

School directors serving eight or more years are recognized by PSBA.