Retired Northampton Area High School teacher Ed Pany received the President's Award from the Lehigh Valley Labor Council at its annual banquet April 20.

"I was asked two or three weeks before if I would be at the labor council's dinner," said Pany. "I had thought it was to be a speaker. When I didn't hear further, I thought they may have gotten someone else. When I answered the phone asking for me to be present, my wife said I should go anyways. So I dressed and showed up, the award was a complete surprise."

Pany, founder and curator of the Atlas Cement Memorial Museum, has been honored by numerous organizations for his community and civic contributions. Among them are the Northampton Exchange Club's Golden Deeds Award.

His family's background is steeped in blue collar work as his father, Anthony, was employed as a former Universal Atlas Cement worker and served as mayor. Pany himself worked summers at the Atlas plant while he was in college.

The award is from a labor organization which includes United Steelworkers, the union that represented Atlas employees.

Inscribed on the 2013 President's Award plaque are the words "for his many years of dedication and support to the education of our members and children and the cement industry in the Lehigh Valley."

A borough councilman, Pany taught at NAHS for 39 years. He continues to serve as curator of the Atlas museum and as a guide. Fourth-grade students from elementary schools in the school district regular tour the facility as do cement executives and their personnel from as far as China and Spain.

Pany, looking out among the crowd assembled at the Lehigh Valley Labor Council dinner at the Northampton Memorial Community Center, noticed representatives from unions of every craft were present, including cement workers, pipe fitters, electricians, steelworkers and carpenters.

Gregg Potter, president of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council, noted Pany's work on behalf of union employees and the cement industry.

State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, gave the principal address.