Sympathy hugs were exchanged, and tears flowed down cheeks as those closest to William Turk gathered to remember the late borough councilman who became synonymous with their town.

Walnutport Borough Council members joined members of the family of former council president during a memorial dedication at the borough hall on Thursday.

Current council President Michael Gaston welcomed those in attendance and thanked them for coming to honor Turk, a longtime councilman who passed away in April at the age of 91.

Gaston, who clearly got choked up as he spoke of his longtime friend, noted that Turk spent over 30 years as a councilman, the majority of which were as council president.

“He did a lot for the borough,” Gaston said. “We worked as a team.”

Gaston said he learned a lot from Turk, who was a mentor to him.

“He was a good friend of mine,” he said. ”We have a nice town, and he did a great job.”

Borough Mayor Wayne Weidner proclaimed Sept. 14 as William J. Turk Day.

Weidner said that Turk served on council from 1990 until his passing, including 25 years as council president.

In addition, he said Turk was instrumental in securing funding and purchasing the former Walnutport School while he served on council.

Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz reflected on her time spent with Turk while serving on council.

Wentz said Turk was the “consummate gentleman,” and that she “learned a lot from him.”

Michael Wentz, who serves as borough grant coordinator, roadmaster and fire chief of Diamond Fire Company in Walnutport, thanked the people who served on the committee for the memorial dedication.

Wentz spoke glowingly of Turk, and recounted the time when Turk first joined council shortly after Wentz began working for the borough.

“From the day he got on council, he would always say ‘we’re going to get everything 100%, we’re going to get everything tip-top,’?” Wentz said. “He would say ‘this is how it’s going to work, it’s going to be perfect’, and it was.”

Wentz added that he and Turk worked on many grants together over the decades that followed.

“It was Bill’s drive, his 100% caring about the community,” he said. “He had a heart of gold and the biggest heart of gold, and it shows, it truly does.”

Wentz read a prepared statement from borough police Chief Pete Wayda, who was unable to attend the memorial dedication.

“Bill, as we all knew him, had a great vision for this community,” Wayda said in his prepared statement. “He was instrumental in finding the funding and purchasing the Walnutport Elementary School, which is now our borough hall.”

Wayda added that it was important to dedicate the building, which was Turk’s vision, in memory of him.

“Bill always had a vision for what he felt the community should look like, and he worked tirelessly to see his dreams come true,” Wayda said in his prepared statement. “Bill spent hours when we first acquired this building assisting in the renovations and planting trees and shrubbery around the property.”

Self Promotion Designs was recognized for its generous donation of the plaque, as was Tom Lacko Home Improvements for the custom frame and mounting of the plaque.

Turk’s family members were then asked to come forward and unveil the plaque recognizing his dedication and hard work during his 30-plus years of serving on borough council.

Wentz ended the program by stating that Turk “may be gone, but he will never, ever be forgotten.”

Turk and his wife, Barbara, have two sons, Bill and Brian, a daughter, Lynette, daughters-in-laws Chris and Terry, and three grandchildren, Lauren, Kasey and Aiden.

Bill Turk said he and the family were extremely thankful to the borough for the plaque and ceremony, as well as for dedicating the building in memory of William Turk.

“It’s very beautiful,” Bill Turk said. “It’s very much appreciated from everyone in the family.”