The Montgomery Ruritan Club used the occasion of its Annual Club and Turkey Trot Festival Appreciation night to present its “Distinguished Community Service Awards” to two long time club members Dale Leonard (left) and Gary D. Jones (right). Making the presentation was this years Ruritan club president, Shad Truelove (middle). Both Leonard and Jones are retired Vietnam War Veterans, who have been contributing club and community members have volunteered to serve in a variety of ways during both club and festival events — present honors and recognitions much deserved. This club and festival award has been presented since 1977 to club or community volunteers judged to have made significant and prolonged contributions to the Montgomery Rutian Club, the Turkey Trot Festival and to the Daviess County Community in general.

Charter Member & his Wife Attend Appreciation Dinner Pictured here is Carol and Jim O’Brian of Montgomery as they relax after the Dinner and Program at the Annual Turkey Trot Appreciation Dinner held on Saturday Evening Nov. 16, 2019 at the Ruritan Community Building. Jim O’Brian is only one of three Charter Members of the Montgomery Ruritan Club that is still living. The other two members are Joe Traylor who still lives in Montgomery and Chris O’Brian a cousin of Jim O’Brian who is 96 years old and lives in Assisted Living in Washington. Last year a 4th Charter Member Tom Jones who had lived in Missouri passed away leaving the three that live close to Montgomery. There was 65 members who signed the original charter in 1961

Club President Shad Truelove presents a check to the “Cops and Kids Christmas Program” sponsored by local Fraternal Order of Police. Accepting on behalf of the F.O.P is Daviess County Sheriff Gary Allison and Deputy Steve Sturgis.

Club President Shad Truelove presents a check to Marcea Foresten and associate Angie Russell representing the Junior Achievement Program for Daviess County and Southwestern Indiana.

Accepting a check on behalf of the Daviess County 4-H Programs was Tara Brower.

Ruritan Club Officers for 2019-20 Pictured above is the Montgomery Ruritan Club Offices for 2019 and 2020. Shown here is front row (L-R) Shad Truelove, (President) Jason Ochs (Vice President) Albert Kavanaugh (Outgoing Secretary) Tony Showalter (Treasurer). Back Row (L-R) Trey Showalter (Secretary for 2020) Stewart Blake (Board Member), Kriag Knepp, (Board Member) Gary Hart, (Board Member). The President for 2020 will be the Jason Ochs who served as Vice President during 2019 and Adam Greene (not pictured) will be the new Board Member in 2020 taking the position of Stewart Blake. Shad Truelove the President in 2019 will remain on the board in 2020.

Albert Kavanaugh Retires from Montgomery Ruritan/Park Board Pictured here is Albert Kavanaugh (left) as he is presented with an Appreciation Plaque by Turkey Trot Chairman Dewayne Shake at the Annual Ruritan/Turkey Trot Appreciation Dinner. After 15 Years as Secretary of the Ruritan Board Albert Kavanaugh will retire from the Board at the end of the year. Kavanaugh has not only served as the most recent Secretary from 2005, he has also served as Ruritan Vice President in 1974, Ruritan President in 1975, served as TT Festival Publicity Chairman from 1984 to the present time. Kavanaugh first became a Ruritan Club Member in 1963 and has worked at various Ruritan Functions every since then. After the presentation the outgoing Secreatary stated “I feel very pleased for these many years to have been able to contribute to an organization that has and does pride itself on being a ‘Giver and not a Taker,” to have as its motto “Community Service, Fellowship and Good Will!” Kavanaugh still plans to contribute in whatever way he can to the success of the Montgomery Ruritan Club in his retirement years.

Alice Robbins Honored at 2019 Turkey Trot Appreciation Dinner Shown here is Turkey Trot Chairman Dewaye Shake (left) as he make a special “Thank You” Presentation to Alice Robbins for her many years of sevice in running the Turkey Trot Office and Secretary during the Turkey Trot Festival. 2019 was the 14th year that Alice ran the Turkey Trot Office and the Club has been very appreciative for her efforts. She plans to be back in 2020 if all goes well.

Accepting checks of support and appreciation on behalf of the Montgomery and Cannelburg Fire Departments from Shad Truelove Club President were volunteer firemen (from left): Tim Showalter, Terry O’Brian, Earl Wagler, Trey Showalter, Kraig Knepp, Marv Graber and Bryan Fuhs. An often repeated pledge of the firemen was repeated, “While we wish our services were never needed, we know they will be and we are ready to serve our community and its members in any situation.” During the acceptance of the check for the Fire Department Terry O’Brian gave a brief accounting of how donations/fund raising have progressed and how the money is being used to purchase new equipment for the department.