The “Distinguished Community Service Award” was first awarded in 1977 to Fred Murphy, a member of the Montgomery Ruritan Club, and Ron Myers, a member of the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce. That practice was followed for several years. However, since the Turkey Trot Festival became sponsored solely by the Montgomery Ruritan Club, more recent recipients have been club members judged to have made significant and prolonged contributions to the Montgomery Ruritan Club, the Turkey Trot Festival and to the Montgomery-Daviess County Community in general.

1977. Fred Murphy & Ron Myers
1978. Joe Traylor & Bob Ward
1979. Walter Downey & Mike Herring
1980. Ralph Dages & Gerry Frette
1981. Charles Hart, Dave Cox & Jackie McGrath
1982. Max Eaton
1983. Chris O’Brian & Jack Craney
1984. Paul Miller & Chet Thompson
1985. Darrell Eaton & Ed Theroff
1986. Jim Traylor & Bob Showalter
1987. Don Craney & Jay Myers
1988. John Hart & Gary Graber
1989. Odius Hinkle & Bob Hart
1990. Charles Albert Kavanaugh
1991. Lois Wininger
1992. Fred Craney
1993. P. V. Steiner
1994. Tony Showalter
1995. Jack Graber & Jim O’Brian
1996. Alvis Graber & Louis Kavanaugh, Jr.
1997. Leo Ryan & Leo Riney
1998. Bernie Duncheon & Jim Parsons
1999. George Nolan & Bob Elliott
2000. Terry O’Brian & Hank Wittmer
2001. Mike Healy & Glen Graber
2002. Tom Kane & Jim Truelove
2003. P.J. Craney & Glen Spaulding
2004. Grant Olds & Scott Nally
2005. Mike Anderson & John “Peanut” Knepp
2006. Deron Steiner & Herman O’Connor
2007. Mike Dages & Greg Traylor
2008. Larry Wilcher & Rick Dosher
2009. Tim Showalter &; Vaughn Graber
2010. Lee Kavanaugh & Lowell Graber
2011. Pius Hart & John H. Wagler
2012. Dale Foster & Bob Miller
2013. Dave Kavanaugh & Leo Barley
2014. Joe Radamacher & Galen Graber
2015. Mark Strange & John Pat Hart
2016. Tony Duncheon & Curt Miller
2017. Elmer Lee Graber & Dennis Hart
2018. Everett Harrawood & Darrell “Cap” Knepp
2019. Dale Leonard & Gary Jones
2020. Mike Steiner & Steve Harrawood