Joe Swisher Recognized as Harford Living Treasure

From Harford County government:

The Harford County Department of Community Services, Harford County Council, Harford County Cultural Arts Board and the Harford County Public Library recognized Joe Swisher as a Harford Living Treasure. The County Council made the presentation on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Harford County Public Library’s Living Treasures Oral History Project preserves future generations firsthand accounts of life in Harford County for previous generations. The public can find a collection of nearly 300 oral histories collected from Harford County Living Treasures in the Bel Air Branch of the HCPS.

Joseph Swisher is 80-years-old. He was a member and past Chairman of the Aberdeen Planning and Zoning Commission for over 40 years. He also served as President of the Maryland Citizens Planning Association and was one of the founding members of the Army Alliance. He later served as a member of the Board for first five years. He produced and hosted over 75 half hour Historic Harford shows for Harford Cable Network.

He formed the Aberdeen Heritage Trust, Inc. in order to solicit tax exempt donations to support local student college scholarships and historical property projects. Mr. Swisher was Executive Director of the Northeastern Maryland Technical Council as well as the Past President and current member of the Historical Society of Harford County. He was a member and Past President of the Aberdeen Lions Club for over 20 years. He formed the Aberdeen Lions Charities to solicit funds for college scholarships for local students. He co-authored three books and is currently Treasurer and member of the Aberdeen Heritage Trust.

A county resident who has lived in Harford County for at least 40 years and is at least 70 years old is eligible to be nominated as a Harford Living Treasure. Nomination forms are available on the Harford County Public Library’s website at www.hcplonline.org. Nominations are reviewed by the Harford County Cultural Arts Board and forwarded to the County Council for final approval.

The Living Treasure program is sponsored by the Department of Community Services Cultural Arts Board and supported by the Harford County Council.