Lewis-Clark Antique Power Club, Inc., EDGE&TA Br. 54 is pleased to nominate Judith Durfey for Hall of Fame recognition for her outstanding, steadfast leadership as president the past 5 years starting in 2018. Further, Judith was re-elected to serve again as president for 2023 (her 6th consecutive term). And, in 2019 she took on the additional job of editing/producing the outstanding club newsletters (aka, THE LUBRICATOR).
It was back in 2017 during Branch 54’s winter meeting, agenda item—elections, then president David Ruark threaten to lock the exit door of the meeting room until a member volunteered to run for presidency! After a long pause, when no long-term member spoke up, Judith, a relatively new member, raised her hand and said, “Heck, I’ll do it”. She had just recently retired from Washington State University where she was one of the most senior administrative professionals on campus— serving as admin assistant to the Vice President of Business Affairs. So, she brought a wealth of talent to the presidency of Branch 54 with an impressive “skill-set” to guide the club through the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions and beyond. Her communication skills are top-shelf. She sends timely email notices to club members—keeping members posted on coming events to include our sister club’s activities, Branch 197 located in Spokane, WA and the National EDGE&TA.
Further, Judith is a “farm-girl”. She grew up on a family farm in the lower Yakima Valley of Washington State. And, after a college undergraduate degree in accounting, she married a farmer. Together they farmed in the Tri-Cities area of the state. In the 1980s when farm loan interest rates went through-the-roof, the Durfey family made the decision to move to Pullman, Washington where her husband would enter graduate school in Agriculture Mechanization and Engineering. Following graduate school, her husband went on to become the director/instructor of the Agriculture Technology & Management program at Washington State University. So, Judith has had a wealth of exposure to agriculture in the northwest over the years.
Judith has been tireless in her support of Branch 54 member collections and exhibiting of same at fair, shows and special events. Judith and her husband have collected unstyled model A John Deere tractors, stationary engines and implements like rock-crushers. She has also demonstrated strong support for the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum located in Pomeroy, WA.
Further, she has demonstrated resourcefulness in helping find new venues for the Branch 54 quarterly meetings. Her many contributions as president of Branch 54 can best be characterized as a herculean effort.
