EVERETT — Two Everett notables were honored last week for devoting their lives to protecting the community.
The Everett Community College’s Alumni Association recently announced Everett Police Chief Kathy Atwood and late Everett firefighter Gary Parks as the college’s 2012 Distinguished Alumni.
Atwood was the keynote speaker at the college’s Foundation Leadership Breakfast on April 26.
The longtime Everett cop has been police chief since April 2011. She was born and raised here and graduated from the college with an associate degree in arts and science in 1981.
Her father, brother and sister also attended EvCC.
Atwood occasionally serves as a guest speaker for EvCC criminal justice classes.
Parks was an 18-year veteran of the Everett Fire Department who was killed in an unsolved arson at the college in 1987.
He also is honored with a bronze firefighting sculpture that sits outside the college’s Gary Parks Memorial Student Union Building. EvCC in February hosted the memorial for the 25th anniversary of his death.
Parks went to night school at EvCC for fire science through a Veterans Administration program.
“Our community depends on individuals like these two every day,” college president David Beyer said.
This is the sixth year the Alumni Association has given the award.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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