SEABOARD — Dignitaries from across the Roanoke Valley as well as citizens of Seaboard turned out to wish a happy retirement to Mayor Dr. Melvin F. Broadnax on Saturday at the Lion’s Club in Seaboard. Broadnax has been Mayor since 1988.

Roger Bell | The Daily Herald Seaboard Mayor Melvin Broadnax shared a laugh with the crowd at his retirement party as he prepared to deliver his remarks. Broadnax retired Saturday, having served as mayor since 1988. Advertisement

Town Commissioner Edward Stevens served as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the group. Shortly after the opening, retiring Weldon Town Commissioner Dock Brown took the rostrum and spoke of his friendship with Broadnax.

“Melvin Broadnax and I have been friends for over 60 years,” Brown said. “We’ve been close friends for 50 years.” 

Brown also stood in for Congressman G.K. Butterfield, who’d been scheduled to present a proclamation from the U.S. House of Representatives, which acknowledged Broadnax’s “true and lasting impact on the First Congressional District of North Carolina,” and expressed “deepest gratitude for his innumerable contributions.”

Those contributions, some of which were enumerated in a proclamation from the Northampton Board of Commissioners, included a bachelor’s from Shaw University, a master’s from North Carolina A&T and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Shaw University. Broadnax also served in the Korean War for the United States Army and was elected to the Seaboard Town Board of Commissioners in 1971, before being elected mayor in 1988.

State General Assembly Representative Michael Wray stated he saw Broadnax as an example to follow in his own life and knew he wasn’t the only one, “God has touched you and you’ve touched a lot of people.”

State Senator Ed Jones joined Wray at the rostrum to present the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Broadnax. The award is one of the most prestigious honors in the state — previous recipients include Maya Angelou, Michael Jordan and Charles Kuralt.

Jones pointed out while Broadnax might be losing his title of mayor with his retirement, life isn’t about such things. “It’s not about the titles we had,” Jones said, adding, “It’s about the job we did. Thank you for the job you’ve done.”

After receiving many more plaques and other accolades, Broadnax himself rose to speak. He thanked everyone for coming and reflected on his own life’s path.

“Only in America,” Broadnax began, “could you be a shoe shine boy and become mayor of your town.”

“I was born here in Seaboard,” Broadnax continued, “to a rich family. I say rich family because I had a good Mom and Dad. They believed in education.”

Broadnax also touched on his belief in faith as a cornerstone of life and community. “Church is the core of any community,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the Lord, what would I do?”

The retiring Broadnax stated while his role as mayor might be seen as a leadership position, he didn’t see it that way. “A man is born to serve,” Broadnax said. “Not to be served. I’m very happy I found that out early; I learned it at home.”

“Nobody is self-made,” Broadnax added, “You need help along the way.”

After telling the group “things don’t happen; you make them happen,” Broadnax ended his remarks with one of his favorite sayings.

“Give to the world the best you have,” Broadnax told the group, “And the best will come back to you.”

Melvin Broadnax officially leaves office on Dec. 8.