Lance Robbins, right, and Forrest Milder, center, buy raffle tickets and candy cigarettes from Casey Bushway.

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Lance J. Robbins, the recipient of the Pawtucket Foundation’s “Person of the Year” award, called his transformation of the city’s old mills a “mystical odyssey.”

The Pawtucket Armory, the site of this year’s awards ceremony, reflected just that, as the main hall was changed into a magical garden party, complete with golden-clad “wood nymphs,” that dazzled some 360 guests on Tuesday night.
Robbins and his company, Urban Smart Growth, along with Robert D. Billington and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, were honored by the Pawtucket Foundation at the civic organization’s fifth annual awards celebration. Also receiving recognition was Elizabeth J. (Betty) Johnson for her work with the Pawtucket History Research Center that stands in her name.
According to John J. Partridge, co-chairman of the Pawtucket Foundation, the awards celebration is a unique opportunity to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to Pawtucket’s development as a community. The award recipients “represent the best examples of civic leadership and entrepreneurship that the Foundation tries to embody and to encourage throughout the community at large.”
Partridge said that Robbins’ vision, which led to his redevelopment of the former Hope Webbing building into Hope Artiste Village and his new venture with the old Coats and Clark and Paramount Cards mill properties, has “significantly enhanced the quality of life in Pawtucket.”
Daniel Sullivan, Jr., the Foundation’s other co-chairman, presented Robert Billington with his award, noting his 21 years with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and efforts to promote sustainable tourism in the local region.
Sullivan noted the Billington is one of three finalists for the prestigious World Tourism Council Awards coming up on April 21 in Dubai. “Bob is leading the charge not only on a local scale, but on a national and worldwide scale,” said Sullivan.
After a menu that included chicken Francais with lemon butter and wild rice, guests were treated to short film presentations on each of the awards recipients.
Although Elizabeth “Betty” Johnson is in an assisted living center and could not attend, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to her as Richard Olsen accepted the award on her behalf. She was lauded for her long efforts at collecting and preserving historical information on the city of Pawtucket and for donating her house, the 19th century Joseph Spaulding House at 30 Fruit Street, for a research center.
Also given special recognition was Richard C. Davis, the Foundation’s outgoing executive director. Sullivan praised Davis for “leading the Pawtucket Foundation through many great things” during his seven years at the helm, and wished him luck in his new endeavor as president of the Downtown Improvement District of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
As an added feature, the guests were presented with a special souvenir “edition” of a fictional Pawtucket Times front page that fast-forwards to city’s highlights in the year 2015. The articles showcased many of the projects, such as a suitable-for-swimming Blackstone River and a gleaming new train station, that city leaders hope will come to fruition.