An amazed crowd stood and applauded, some wiping back tears, as a tiny woman made her way to the stage, her pure white hair glowing in the spotlight.

“To my employees and many of my customers, I am just Gramma, and I don’t feel I have done anything exceptional in my life,” 91-year-old gravel contractor Mildred Munro told the crowd as she accepted one of two lifetime achievement awards offered at Red Deer first ever Women of Excellence gala on Wednesday.

“I am most flattered and surprised: Flattered because I was chosen from a most accomplished group of women and surprised because the work that I have done in this community over the past 49 years has been a source of great pleasure to me,” she said.

Introducing Munro to the 300-plus people who attended the inaugural event, Red Deer College President Ron Woodward said it was a deep and personal honour to recognize her for a lifetime filled with family, work and community.

Munro and her husband had started an aggregate processing company near Pine Lake in 1960, said Woodward. When her husband died in 1984 after a lengthy illness, Munro picked up where he had left off. She worked side by side with their son until his death in 1991, when the company was forced to shut down during settlement of the estate.

At age 74, Munro restructured and restored the business, where she continues to work eight to 10 hours a day, said Woodward. As if that’s not enough to keep her busy, she continues to devote much of whatever time remains to helping with community projects. Her past achievements include joining the fight shut down a landfill at Pine Lake because of her concerns about polluting groundwater.

“Her ability to handle adversity in difficult situations while maintaining a positive focus is an inspiration for women everywhere,” said Woodward.

“She demonstrates that you don’t have to be tough to operate successfully in a male-dominated industry.”

Munro corrected Woodward on only one point.

“I’m 19,” she said, bringing gales of laughter from a crowd that was still on its feet.

Woodward expressed similar virtues in describing the event’s second Lifetime Achievement Award.

Joan Donald, who set up a small oil company with her husband Jack in 1964, has continued to demonstrate solid business sense and leadership ability while amassing an impressive record as a community volunteer, said Woodward.

He went on to list her contributions, including her service as a board member and president of the Westerner Exposition Association and her work at organizing numerous events and projects, including the annual Festival of Trees.

In accepting the reward, Donald expressed some dismay at being totally unprepared.

“If anybody knows me, they know that I plan ahead and I’ve always got everything in control,” said Donald.

“I’m humbled, but I’m honoured. I accept this on behalf of all the volunteers that I’ve worked with over ... about 44 years. You surround yourself with great people and they do it for you.

“I’ve always said this one thing: You can’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You have to give something back.”

Red Deer’s first Women of Excellence Awards was one of two projects set up this year by the Red Deer & District Community Foundation, said event chairwoman Lyn Radford.

A number of ideas had been discussed with Advocate publisher Fred Gorman, who brought forward the idea of recognizing the accomplishments of successful women, said Radford.

She acknowledged that there were some glitches, including a couple of errors in introducing nominees within the 10 categories.

But those glitches will be worked out and the call is out now for nominations for next year’s event, which Radford said should attract an even bigger crowd.

Winners in the 10 categories were:

• Farmer Dale Christian for Agriculture and Environment,

• Theatre Studies instructor Lynda Adams in Arts, Culture and Heritage,

• Fitness instructor Charlene Andrew in Athletics, Recreation and Fitness,

• Financier Sharon Eistetter in Business and the Professions,

• Jaqui Joys, founder of the not-for-profit Lending Cupboard in Community Building,

• Nursing instructor Sheila McKay in Education and Training,

• Business leader Shelley Ralston in Entrepreneurship,

• Physician Maureen McCall in Health and Wellness,

• Patricia Turnbull, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Red Deer in Human Services

• Aleah Ross, 15, a volunteer at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, in Young Women of Excellence.

The Red Deer & District Community Foundation is a funding agency working within Red Deer and the surrounding region. Information is available online at www.rddcf.ca or by calling 403-341-6911.

Contact Brenda Kossowan at bkossowan@reddeeradvocate.com