The honor came as a complete surprise to Slatington Mayor Walter H. Niedermeyer at the beginning of the Slatington Borough Council meeting on Monday night.

Magisterial District Judge Thomas C. Creighton, on behalf of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania, presented Niedermeyer with a certificate honoring him for 20 years of public service as mayor of Slatington.

“I had no idea this was going to happen,” Niedermeyer said. “It was a surprise.”

Niedermeyer officially began his mayoral career in January 2002, but he was actually present as mayor for the council meeting one month prior to taking office. The outgoing mayor had moved out of town and told him he should go in his place.

Attending council meetings wasn’t new to him, since he had been attending them as a citizen for a while. A former mayor encouraged him to run for office.

As a local animal control officer, Niedermeyer said he met many of the residents of Slatington and enjoyed talking to everyone, so he decided to give being mayor a try.

As mayor, he made it a point to attend every event, every council meeting, and several community organization meetings. On average, he went to about four meetings and events a month.

“I never said no,” Niedermeyer said. “Whenever somebody called up, it would be a yes, I’ll be there. I figured that was the mayor’s job. I liked it. It was fun.”

Public service wasn’t new to him.

Niedermeyer worked as a firefighter in Allentown for 33 years. Even after moving to Slatington, he continued to serve as a member and president of a firemen’s association and still does today, as well as the Lions Club, the Venture Group, and the Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce.

All these years later, Niedermeyer looks back on his years as mayor fondly.

In 2009, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce selected him to be Mayor of the Year. That was an honor he treasures.

He also treasures his memories of the Memorial Day speeches, helping with Meals on Wheels, and performing weddings.

“It was a pleasurable 20 years,” he said. “Especially when I went to these things. See people, say hello. You don’t have to speak much, just be there to show you care.”

Niedermeyer also fondly remembers how his wife, Mary, liked being the first lady. Once, she was asked to donate 20 afghans for a fundraiser. An avid fan of crocheting, she set to work on those afghans and happily produced all 20 of them.

“She did everything for everybody,” he said.

Three years ago, Mary had a stroke that changed her life and his. With help from a visiting nurse, Niedermeyer was able to care for her at home until her passing in May, just eight days before the primary election. He put out two signs he had from the first time he ran, and his granddaughter put out some signs she had saved, but the spark was gone.

“I just didn’t have it in me anymore,” he said. “It’s time to go.”

Niedermeyer wishes well to his successor, Jeralyn Walters Schoch. She’ll do fine, he said.

His best advice to her is to go to everything she can go to, listen to the people, and never lie to them.

“It was a pleasure being with these people in Slatington,” Niedermeyer said. “I did my best for everybody. I appreciate everybody, even those who didn’t like me.”