WATERVILLE — The building at 173 Main St. was named the Powell Building this past week during a presentation in which Colby President David Greene and Alfond Foundation president Greg Powell spoke.

The Kirk & Greg Powell Building was dedicated in honor of Kershaw “Kirk” Elias Powell and Gregory W. Powell, a father and son whose commitment to Waterville spanned generations, according to a news release from Colby College.

Kirk grew up in Waterville and graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class in 1947. He attended Colby College between 1947-49 and then Tufts Dental School, from which he graduated in 1953. Following a tenure in the United States Navy in the Dental Corps, Kirk returned to Waterville, where he raised his family and practiced dentistry for 44 years.

Kirk became a leader in the community, serving on the Waterville School Board, the Waterville YMCA Board, and the Colby College Board of Trustees. In the 1980s, he was awarded an honorary bachelor and masters degree from Colby. He died at age 85 in 2014.

While growing up in Waterville, Greg had known Harold Alfond as a supporter of the central Maine area. Following a career in law, in 1996 he joined the Harold Alfond Foundation. He succeeded Mr. Alfond as chairman of the Foundation in 2008.