Marquette County Board of Health member Harvey Wallace, PhD, received in person the National Association
of Local Boards of Health’s (NALBOH) most prestigious award, the Reverend Everett I. Hageman Award on
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at NALBOH’s 16th Annual Conference (Step Forward Together: The 2008 Public Health Partners Conference) in Madison, WI. The Reverend Everett I. Hageman Award is named after one of NALBOH’s founders. The award is a Revere Bowl set on a pedestal recognizing Paul Revere, the first President of this nation’s first local board of health in Boston, MA.

This national award is presented annually by NALBOH to a board of health member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment, and enthusiasm for local public health.

Wallace is a Professor of Health Education at Northern Michigan University and has served as a member of
the Marquette County (MI) Board of Health since 1988. He served as president of the board from 1995-1999, and was elected County Commissioner and subsequently became the Commissioner Liaison to the Board of Health—a position that he holds today. During his tenure with the board, he was influential in the tobacco sales regulation, establishing health and safety standards for tattoo parlors, and establishing minimum construction criteria for on-site sewage systems and private water supplies. Wallace also served as president of the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, Governor’s Risk Reduction and Aids Policy Advisory Commission, and Michigan’s Local Public Health Department Accreditation Program. On a national front, Wallace has served on NALBOH’s board of directors, the National Association of County and City Health Officials Operational Definition for a Functional Local Health Department, and as an Exploring Accreditation Steering Committee member.

The conference was a collaboration of three partners: National Association of Local Boards of Health,
Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards, and Wisconsin Public Health
Association. The conference highlighted the need for ongoing attention to the public health system by
strengthening partnerships among the unique network of individuals, agencies, and organizations that work
to improve the health of the public. Conference activities provided attendees with information, skills,
resources, and networking opportunities. The conference engaged over 520 public health representatives
nationwide, and it took place July 22-24, 2008 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
Madison, Wisconsin.

NALBOH represents the grassroots foundation of public health in America, and is the only organization in
America dedicated to preparing and strengthening boards of health, empowering them to promote and protect the health of their communities through education, training, and technical assistance.