Citizens honored at chamber awards

Mary Louise Shattuck, a longtime community volunteer and member of the city’s Centennial Committee, received the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce’s annual Outstanding Citizen Award at a luncheon July 23.

Shattuck, who has been active with the Huntington Beach Youth Shelter, Huntington Beach Art Center and other groups, was one of a number of people honored at the Keys for Success luncheon, which also honors influential families and women in the community.

About 100 city officials and members of the community attended the event at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort.

Mayor Keith Bohr presented the award to Shattuck, who said a friend of hers had joked that she was finally being honored for refusing to ever say “no” to anything.

The honoree, though, put her own twist on that idea.

“When I first moved to Huntington Beach, I said ‘no’ to the idea that we didn’t need a youth shelter,” Shattuck said, drawing a round of applause before listing a number of other projects she had similarly supported.

She concluded her speech by saying, “I am now defined as an outstanding citizen by being given this award, and that is something I am so proud of.”

Also celebrated at the luncheon were three family-owned businesses — Ruby Palace Chinese Restaurant, Bartco Lighting and the Sugar Shack restaurant — whose founders and owners received the Legacy Award.

Linda Gallagher, the co-owner of Heritage Memorial Services and a volunteer with a number of groups, was given the Athena Award, which honors women who excel professionally and give back to the community.

“I guess it’s safe to say I have a trophy wife,” Gallagher’s husband, Dennis, said into the microphone after she received the award.

“No, your wife has a trophy,” she retorted, smiling.