Joe “Fuzzy” O’Donnell is indubitably well-liked and highly respected locally.

Many compliments were bestowed upon “the jovial leprechaun” during the 74th annual banquet of the Irish American Association of the Panther Valley on Friday, with speakers praising his friendship, work ethic, humility, humor, community support and kindness.

Nearly 200 people attended the banquet, held at Hilltop Community Center in Summit Hill, where the association named O’Donnell its prestigious “Shamrock Award” recipient.

The plaque was presented to O’Donnell by Ryan O’Gurek, president of the Irish American Association.

After the “Irishman of the Year” graciously accepted the award, O’Gurek said to the gathering, “Uncle Fuzzy stood up here and talked about how everyone else helped him. The truth is, he helped us,” which yielded a generous round of standing applause.

O’Donnell said, “A lot of the old guys have taught us a lot of stuff. I just hope as I’m getting older, I taught younger people a lot of stuff.”

Accompanying O’Donnell was his wife, Michele.

The Lake Hauto resident wore his signature Irish Trinity flat cap at the dinner program, removing it only during the prayers and once when he was good-naturedly teased about his nickname, Fuzzy, when he exposed his nearly bald head.

The award recipient is well-known in the Panther Valley area for running annual bus trips to Notre Dame football games. He owns a house in Indiana and is known for letting residents from the Panther Valley area stay there during their visits for Notre Dame events.

O’Donnell owned and operated the former Dew Drop Inn in Summit Hill for 23 years, where he sponsored various local sports teams.

He is in his 49th year as a basketball official for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association where he has been a president of the Tamaqua Chapter for years. He is also a life member of the Diligence Fire Company No. 1, Summit Hill.

Shawn Hoben, Summit Hill Fire Chief, said this was O’Donnell’s 50th year as a member of the fire department. He said O’Donnell has been generous to the fire company over the years. He noted that in 2014 he was the recipient of the fire company’s Volunteer of the Year Award and in 2020 received a “Friend of the Fire Company” plaque.

He awarded O’Donnell a plaque on behalf of the fire company and its members for being named the Shamrock Award winner.

Hoben said of O’Donnell, “He’s a man proud of his heritage.”

There were three speakers during the awards dinner. They were William O’Gurek, former county commissioner and a former Summit Hill mayor; Paul McArdle, a former Summit Hill mayor, and Jeffrey Szczecina, the current mayor of the borough.

William O’Gurek labeled O’Donnell “a genuine friend” with whom he “shared good times and bad, happy times and sad, but always there for each other and each other’s families.”

“This jovial leprechaun is so deserving of this honor,” O’Gurek said.

McArdle said, “It’s true. Good things do happen to good people.”

He told O’Donnell, “When you moved to Hauto Valley, it was Hauto Valley’s gain. But fortunately, you were always able to find Summit Hill again.”

Szczecina used his platform to demonstrate how many lives the Shamrock winner has touched. He asked various questions regarding how O’Donnell has helped people, telling people to stand with an affirmative reply. By the time he finished his questions over half of the room was standing.

The welcome was given by Ryan O’Gurek.

Bobby O’Gurek served as the toastmaster and introduced the guests.

The guests included various state and county political leaders. There also was a representative from the office of Congresswoman Susan Wild.

The invocation and benediction was given by Rev. Robert George, pastor of St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley.

McArdle concluded his speech with a play on the Irish phrase Erin go Brach, which means “Ireland forever.”

He told O’Donnell, “Fuzzy go Brach.”