Jamestown School Board President Paul Abbott has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Joseph H. Mason Award by United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s Labor Committee members.
Every Year, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County partners with organized labor to select one of its own to receive the Joseph H. Mason Award. The award honors the memory of Joseph H. Mason and his service in the community, and it is open to any union member who has provided volunteer service in Southern Chautauqua County.
Abbott will be honored as the 2023 recipient of the Joseph H. Mason award during United Way’s annual “Salute To Labor” dinner scheduled to be held at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Tickets for that event can be purchased by calling United Way at 716-483-1561.
Abbott began his career with the Jamestown Police Department in 1991. In addition to working as a patrol officer from 1991 to 1998, he was an instructor and a field training officer. Abbott served as a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team and later became team commander. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1998 and Lieutenant in 2001. He was the creator and co-director of the Jamestown Police’s Citizens Police Academy and instructed in it for a number of sessions. He was also an instructor at the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy.
In 2003 Abbott attended the 215th Session of the FBI National Academy. In 2012 he was named the investigative commander of the Jamestown Police Department and later the commander of the Jamestown Metro Drug task force. He retired from the Jamestown Police Department in 2017 and works part time for the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department.
Abbott’s history of volunteering began in the summer of 2000 when his then 5-year-old daughter began participating in JAYS soccer and he said he would be willing to help out. He was talked into coaching a team and for the next 16 years he would go on to couch not only JAYS soccer but also SC United Travel Soccer, YMCA indoor soccer and JHS girls varsity and JV soccer and Jamestown Boys and Girls Club softball.
Abbott ran for the Jamestown School Board in 2008 as a way of making sure all students were getting the best possible education. He said he very much enjoys being an advocate for the students of Jamestown. In addition to being a board member, he has served as board president for the last seven years and has attended hundreds of hours of training as a board member.
Abbott lives in Jamestown with his wife Jennifer. He has two adult daughters; Kelsey graduated from the University of South Carolina and Case Western University Law school and Hannah graduated from the University of Akron.
Abbott is a member of CSEA Deputy Sheriffs Unit 6322 Local 807.
“We’re proud of United Way’s history of supporting and recognizing organized labor with this award,” said Amy Rohler, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County executive director. “Labor unions are a critical partner in United Way’s mission to improve the lives of every person and family in our community.”
Last year, Jim Cama, a member of the NYSUT Union (New York State Teachers United), was recognized as the 2022 Joseph H. Mason Award winner.
Cama taught for 11 years in Jamestown (seven years at Lincoln and four years at Ring.) Before coming to Ring School, Cama taught first grade and pre-kindergarten for seven years in Denver, Colo. Since its inception, Cama has been a part on the Hands-on Jamestown Neighborhood clean-up events, mobilizing members of the Jamestown Teachers Association to participate in the clean-up around their homes/schools.
Previous Joseph H. Mason Award winners include Burl Swanson (CWA 1115), Steve Skidmore (CSEA 6300), Resa Rosen-Murray (NYSUT), Steven Nowell (IBEW 106), Loren Smith (NYSUT Panama Faculty Association), Kyle Sholl & Shawn Tibbitts (IAFF 772/Jamestown Fire Dept.), Christopher Maggio (Jamestown Teachers Association), Don Emhardt (IBEW 106), Robert Servis (AFM #134 Kendall Club PBA), Rodney Kolstee (CSEA 807), and Karen Frucella-Olson (UAW 338.)