The Norwalk Area Chamber held its 29^th Annual Awards Soirée on January 21 at The Wright Place Events Center. Each year we honor a business, member, student, educator and citizen with a special award. Back when the chamber was celebrating it’s 25^th year then president, Mark Miller, asked for a new Community Footprint Award to be created. The Community Footprint Award honors the lifetime legacy left behind by the actions of dedicated individual(s) or organizations. The footprints created by this person(s)/organization have left a lasting impression on the Norwalk community and will continue to inspire its success.

This year the chamber honored two Community Footprint Awards to two very deserving people. The first award went to Pat Wahl. Although we were planning on honoring Pat in person, sadly she passed away a couple weeks ago. We were honored to have her son, Mike Jr., and daughter, Katie, attend to accept the award on her behalf.

Feisty and energetic are just a couple of words to describe Pat Wahl. She believed in standing up for what is right and wasn’t afraid to do so. She made Norwalk her home and was proud to serve her community in many different and impactful ways.

As a US Postal Service Letter Carrier and Union rep, Pat’s ability to keep everything and everyone around her in-line and on time was evident. She went on to become an amazing public servant for our community serving 20 years as a member and chair for Emergency 911 and as the first female city council member for nearly three decades. Pat was also our first female mayor, serving proudly from 2006-2008.

Pat also loved having fun. She was a beloved Boy Scouts troop leader, was instrumental in bringing back the Soap Box Derby Tournament to Norwalk, orchestrated and organized the 4th of July parade for years as well as the Town and Country Festival in the park after the parade.

Patricia “Pat” Wahl has left an indelible mark on our community, and we at the chamber are honored to recognize her contributions to Norwalk with the 2021 Community Footprint award.

You can view videos from the award presentations on our Facebook page (NorwalkChamberIowa) over the next few weeks.