The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is a lifetime achievement award and the highest honor the Community Foundation bestows upon an individual. This month, in celebration of 75 years of giving back to the community, we are highlighting past recipients of the DSA through the eyes of their living heirs.

Ed Moore Sr. – 1998 DSA recipient

“Forward thinking, involved, a great dad- those are the words I would use to sum up my dad,” said Ed Moore Jr., son of DSA recipient Ed Moore, Sr.

Moore Jr. has many positive memories of his father being involved in several things that “were all for the benefit of and service to others, the community. That was the kind of guy he was through and through.” Ed Moore, Sr. earned the prestigious Distinguished Service Award in 1998 because of that commitment to the community his son so fondly remembers.

A well-respected businessman, Ed Moore, Sr., was always thinking of the future of his community and how it could be better. Perhaps one of his most impactful projects that can still be seen thriving today is the Port Huron Industrial Park Complex. Moore Sr. knew that Port Huron needed to create jobs as World War II was ending. Along with Norman Cosgrove and Don Kohl, Moore Sr. successfully created a vision for the attraction of several industrial businesses to the area of 24th Street and Dove on the south side of Port Huron through the creation of the Industrial Development Corporation (known today as the EDA of St. Clair County).

While Moore Sr. made significant additions to the community through his business endeavors, his charity, community service and character are what Ed Moore Jr. has carried through his life.

“After I settled in Port Huron following my army days, I went into business with him and I learned so much from him.”

Joining his father in business allowed Moore Jr. to witness his father’s business and community life firsthand.  “I’d like to think I’ve followed in his footsteps. I headed up a United Way campaign, served on the Port Huron City Council for 6 years, the library board and worked in many other capacities through the YMCA, Optimist Club and Toast Masters.” Ed Moore Jr. is proud that he has been able to give back to his community like his father so generously did years ago. 

Giving back to the community was certainly what his father did. In his time with the Foundation, Moore Sr. wore many hats serving on more than 10 leadership committees for community projects including campaign chair of the Joint Hospital Fund- which successfully built a new hospital (known today as Lake Huron Medical Center) and made significant improvements to Port Huron Hospital (now known as McLaren Port Huron). Moore Sr. was also an instrumental figure in the construction of the second Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army building and Catholic League House for women along with numerous other capital developments.

Even after his “retirement” in Tucson, Arizona, Ed Moore, Sr. just couldn’t shake his knack for philanthropy. Along with long-time friend and fellow Foundation board member, Granger Weil, the pair used their experience and influence to convince Tucson business leaders to form the Greater Tucson Area Foundation in 1980 (presently known as the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona).

As owner and operator of the Port Huron Times Herald for almost 30 years, Granger Weil was a strong proponent of local. Local news, local cars, local goods, local service – he was insistent about supporting local.

Granger Weil- 1999 DSA Recipient

“If they wrote a story of his life, they should take away his great love of Port Huron. He had a great love for Port Huron,” said Ann Durand, daughter of 1999 DSA Recipient Granger Weil.

Weil certainly lived out his commitment to local through many years of service to his community, following the footsteps of his father, Louis Weil, founding member of the Port Huron District Foundation Board. Serving with other recipients of the Distinguished Service award, like Ed Moore Sr., Weil was influential in the Joint Hospital Fund. He was also involved in the resurrection of the YMCA building in the 1950’s and many projects focused on education. Weil used his connections through the newspaper business to raise support and awareness about the great strides Port Huron was making.

While Weil was vocal about his support of the community, he was quite the opposite when it came to his personal philanthropy.

“There were often many things he did that were behind the scenes that I, his daughter, didn’t even know about,” Ann recalls. Many times, she received a phone call or was stopped on the street by strangers to let her know the impact her father’s quiet generosity had made on their lives.

“I remember when he was out in Arizona and I was visiting him. He got a phone call from a woman who wanted to come and thank him for making her education possible.” Weil’s passion to assist individuals in their quest for education was achieved through many different avenues, including scholarship funds through the Community Foundation.

Ann said, “His life set a good example for many people on how to be a good citizen and it’s something I’ve carried my whole life that I hope others look to as well.”