On Friday, October 19th, two of Loudoun's finest were feted by over 160 of their closest black-tied friends and family as Fred Drummond and Stanley Caulkins were recognized as the 2012 recipients of the Loudoun Laurels medal in Education and Lifetime Service, respectively.

The festivities took place at Rose Hill Manor just north of Leesburg and were accompanied by the Hamilton Trio and a contingent of Loudoun County high school students on hand, in part, for the formal announcement of the Loudoun Laurels Stewardship Trust, its mentorship program with LCPS's CAMPUS and AVID programs, and one special surprise: the announcement of two $10,000 scholarships that will be awarded annually starting in 2013.

And while the night was special in so many ways, everyone agreed that the best part was the recognition of and opportunity to thank two of Loudoun County's finest…

Fred Drummond

For 36 years, from 1953 to 1989, Fred Edgar Drummond served as assistant principal and principal in the Loudoun County Public Schools, a service record still unbroken.

He helped manage, with singular grace, the difficult transition from segregation, through resistance sometimes forceful and sometimes comedic, to today's world-class K-12 school system open to all the children of Loudoun.

Born in Pleasantville, N.J., Drummond attended St. Paul's Polytechnic Institute in Lawrenceville, VA.

After serving for two years in the 477th Bombardment Group of the famed "Tuskegee Airmen," Drummond set out on the path that would prove his life's calling: educating and mentoring young people.

His wife, Peggy, herself a native of Loudoun's town of Purcellville, encouraged her husband to apply for jobs closer to her childhood home. Because of his relative lack of experience, however, Drummond's career began in Kentucky, where he spent five years teaching after earning his master's degree in administration and supervision from Indiana University.

Drummond's journey finally came full circle early in the 1950s when an administrative position in the Loudoun public schools became available. After serving as both principal and teacher, simultaneously, at the black elementary school in Middleburg, Drummond was offered the job that would change his life forever, becoming the first principal at Frederick Douglas Elementary in Leesburg in 1958.

After ten years at Douglas, Fred served shorter stints at Broad Run High School and Leesburg Elementary before settling in and finishing his illustrious career with an eighteen-year run at Catoctin Elementary.

Today, the library at Catoctin Elementary is named in his honor, as is the drive upon which the new Frederick Douglas Elementary School sits in downtown Leesburg.

Drummond selflessly served Loudoun County, its schools and its students for nearly 40 years.

A proud father and grandfather, he and his wife, Peggy, have been married for more than 67 years.

His message for the students in the room?

"Always work to be your best. Don't just do enough to be mediocre. Work hard, challenge yourself, and strive to be the very best you can be."

Stanley Caulkins

Stanley Caulkins, originally born in Maine and one of four brothers, moved with his family to Virginia in 1937. His father, a Baptist minister, soon found his calling ministering to the Leesburg Baptist Church.

A 1943 graduate of Leesburg High School, Stanley enlisted to serve his county in World War II, joining the U.S. Army Air Corps at 17. He was eventually deployed to the European theater as a radioman and waist gunner for the fabled 5,000th B-17 bomber, where he witnessed the horrific destruction of the war while flying missions across western Europe.

Following the war, he enrolled at the Peters School of Horology on the G.I. Bill to become a watchmaker. After school, Stanley worked as a watchmaker in Leesburg for several years before buying the old Flippo Brothers Grocery Store and establishing his own jewelry shop, Caulkins Jewelers, which he still runs to this day with his brother, Roger.

Caulkins Jewelers, a true family business, has served Loudoun from the same location for over half a century, and Stanley has served as a volunteer or officer or both for countless civic and non-profit organizations over that time.

Working with Leesburg's Town Council, famed entertainer Arthur Godfrey, the FAA and the State of Virginia, Caulkins and a group of dedicated individuals were instrumental in the successful founding of the Leesburg Executive Airport.

The airport's main terminal was dedicated in his honor in 2004.

He's served as quartermaster of the Leesburg VFW, secretary of the Izaak Walton League, treasurer of the local Boy Scouts, helped found the Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, and has been a timeless contributor to countless other organizations centered on service to the community.

A winner of numerous awards, including being named Loudoun's Citizen of the Year by the Loudoun Times-Mirror in 1992, Caulkins' belief that a commitment to one's community is the thing that keeps you there has been a driving force throughout his life.

"Whatever I am is because I love my town, I love my county, I love my state, and my people. We're knit together. It's just a pleasure to be part of the community."

Stewardship Trust

The evening also served as a fine opportunity to announce the formation of the Loudoun Laurels Stewardship Trust, a partnership with the Loudoun County Public Schools to pass on the experience and expertise of its Founders and Laureates to the young men and women who might benefit most from that type of mentorship.

With one meeting under their belts earlier this month, both the Laurels and the LCPS are looking forward to having a real and lasting impact on the students involved.

For more information on how you can support the Loudoun Laurels or the Stewardship Trust, please visit www.loudounlaurels.org or contact Alex Cudaback at alex@jamestownexploration.com