Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) chairman Chris Murphy of Chilmark began last week’s meeting on Thursday with a tribute to Bill Wilcox, the well-respected water resource planner who will retire this month.
“Bill grew up here, he’s worked here all his life, he’s been a public servant in many roles,” Mr. Murphy said. “He’s been one of those rare people who has had a very low political profile and a very high human profile. I think we owe him a great debt of gratitude.”
An Edgartown native who now lives in West Tisbury, Mr. Wilcox has worked as a teacher and an extension agent, in addition to his long association with the MVC.
“I’ve been here on and off since 1975,” Mr. Wilcox said. “I’ve seen a lot of changes to the Island, but I think the commission has done a pretty good job of keeping change to change we can live with.”
The room, packed for a scheduled public hearing, burst into applause. A community retirement party, including a potluck supper, is scheduled for the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society hall in West Tisbury on July 9 at 5 pm.
