Tammy McIvor was selected as the 2015 recipient of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year Award earlier this month.

“Tammy is always willing to help,” explained Jerome Rodio, the president of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce's board. “If anyone asks for help, she's right there. We couldn't have found a better person for this award this year. She's really deserving of it.”

McIvor, whose volunteer activities include serving as the vice president of Union Fire Company No. 1 in Oxford and organizing an annual veterans' breakfast for the community, said that she was completely surprised when she was presented with the award at the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce's annual awards dinner and dance on March 5.

“I was humbled, really humbled” said McIvor. “I cried when I got the award. I was so surprised. I do what I do because I want to do it. I didn't expect an award. If I can do something that will help somebody else, then I'm going to do it. That's how I am.”

McIvor is a familiar face to many in the Oxford area. In addition to her duties with the fire company, which also includes working with the fire police, she is also the customer service representative with the Oxford Area Sewer Authority. She previously worked for 24 years at the Peoples Bank of Oxford.

One prominent member of the Oxford business community, Lawrie Drennen of Oxford Feed & Lumber, often calls her the lady of many hats because she takes on so many different roles in the community.

McIvor said that her involvement with the fire company over the last two decades can be attributed to her father, Bud McCoury, who was a longtime member.

“That's really what made me get involved,” she explained.

She was trained as an EMT and served in that capacity for a number of years before transitioning to other leadership roles with the fire company. She was a recording secretary and then ran for the position of vice president in 2015. She was reelected to that post for 2016. She belongs to several fire company committees, including the very active banquet, fundraising, and entertainment committee.

A recent breakfast at the fire company's banquet hall that featured an appearance by the Easter Bunny attracted about 160 guests. McIvor not only helped plan the event, she also volunteered to work at the breakfast. It's not uncommon for McIvor to be very involved with the activities that help raise funds to support the fire company's operations.

“I am very hands-on,” she explained.

The fire company probably relies more on the work of volunteers than any other organization in the community, which makes dedicated people like McIvor essential.

McIvor, however, was quick to share the credit with the many people who work with her on projects.

“I have a really good team that I work with,” she explained. “We all work well together.”

She also thanked her husband, Don, for being so supportive of all her efforts in the community.

She and her father helped found the Oxford Area Community Enhancements as a way to serve the community. The organization's largest project each year is the annual veterans' breakfast that takes place around Veterans Day.

McIvor's willingness to help others extends far beyond the volunteering with the fire company. She's a genuine Good Samaritan. She recalled a day when she was out running errands and saw an elderly woman struggling to safely cross Market Street because of the traffic. McIvor held the woman's arm and helped her cross the street.

“I made sure that she got where she needed to go,” she explained.

McIvor said that she was very grateful to the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce for naming her as the Citizen of the Year, and she also thanked Debbie and Don Sampson for nominating her for the award.

March 5 was certainly an evening that McIvor will long remember. In addition to being surrounded by friends and so many friendly faces from the Oxford community, her family was also well-represented at the awards dinner. In addition to her husband, Don, her daughter, Ashley was also at the event with her boyfriend, Brendan. McIvor's mother, Ellen, was also there with her husband, Joe Sexton. Not only did she receive the award surrounded by family and friends, she even won the 50-50 door prize.

“It was a great evening,” she said.

For McIvor, the various volunteer activities are important to her because she wants to help others—and give back to the Oxford community.

“I love my community,” she said. “If I can give back to the community in some way, then I am here to do it.”