The Ray Thomas Community Service Award

"When you treasure your community, you create a community treasure." -Ray Thomas

The Ray Thomas Community Service Award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to our community through service. The Award is named after MCCF Founding President, Raymond W. Thomas.

Individuals and organizations are invited to nominate community volunteers from Muskingum County to receive The Ray Thomas Community Service Award. The volunteer should have been instrumental in the success of one particular organization or community project.

The award winner names a local charitable organization to receive a $1,000 grant from the Muskingum County Community Foundation.

Any individual or organizational representative who wishes to enter a nomination for the award may obtain a nomination form online or by calling the Foundation at (740) 453-5192 during March each year. The Foundation's Distribution Committee selects the award winner.

The recipient is recognized at the Muskingum County Community Foundation's Annual Donor Recognition and Awards Celebration. A plaque recognizing all past winners hangs in the Community Foundation's lobby.

Previous Recipients

• 2023 - Muskingum County Literacy Council, Muskingum County Library System, Genesis HealthCare Women's Services
• 2022 - Bob Grayson
• 2021 - Doug Hobson
• 2019 - Hanna Luburg-Agin
• 2011 - Linda Regula
• 2010 - Tom and Margaret Quinn
• 2009 - Carl "Mick" Archer, Donald McKendry
• 2008 - Kristy Szemetylo
• 2007 - Sally Ruggles
• 2006 - Dr. Lorle Porter
• 2005 - Dr. Anita and Jerry Jackson, Stephanie Kline, Judy Rebic, Dorothy Renner
• 2004 - Muskingum County Health Department Volunteer Physicians; Carol Boyse and Sandy Kopf; John and Dorothy Montgomery
• 2003 - Wally Moore, Charlie White, Bart Hagemeyer, Kate Hagemeyer
• 2002 - Bob Grayson, Tim Hartmeyer, Franklin B. Thomas
• 2001 - Kathy Rowan Brantley, Mary Ann Bucci
• 2000 - Neal Arnold, Betsy Thomas
• 1999 - Anne Hoffer, Richard Spring
• 1998 - Loren Ross, Trudye Bonar, Mollie Crooks
• 1997 - Ronald A. Bucci, Dr. Hazel L. Butterfield, George W. Sharp
• 1996 - Jennifer Masterson, Tara Thompson Poorman, Diana H. Stubbe, Kathy Rowan Brantley
• 1995 - Ray Thomas, Carole Donley, Tim Longstreth

The Bob Beam Award

The Bob Beam Award is presented to an individual or organization that has made extraordinary efforts in support of the Muskingum County Community Foundation. The award is presented from "time to time" when such recognition is appropriately earned. The award is named for J. Robert Beam, third President of the Community Foundation and Founding Trustee Emeritus whose dedication to the Foundation's progress from 1987 to 2014 was remarkable and commendable.

Previous Recipients

• 2022 - Heather Sands
• 2021 - Randy Cochrane
• 2019 - Matt Elli
• 2009 - Dr. William Stewart for his service to the Foundation's Scholarship Central and GEAR UP programs by teaching ACT Preparation classes to local students.
• 2007 - Tom Lyall who spent countless hours devising financial reports that made comprehensible the complexity of community foundation fund accounting.
• 2006 - Gottlieb, Johnston, Beam, and Dal Ponte for its fine pro bono work on behalf of the Foundation.

The Dick Johnson Civic Leadership Award

The Dick Johnson Civic Leadership Award is presented to an individual who exhibits exceptional civic leadership in the tradition of Dick Johnson. Dick Johnson is known for his entrepreneurial spirit, his philanthropic example, and his leadership in civic life.

The purpose of the award is threefold: to recognize the achievements of the recipients, to honor the work of Dick Johnson, and to encourage others to become future recipients of the award.

The Award is a permanent fixture in the lobby of the Muskingum County Community Foundation, engraved with the name of each recipient. Each recipient receives a smaller version of the award.

The Dick Johnson Civic Leadership Award is awarded each year at the Community Foundation's Groundhog Day Celebration.

Previous Recipients

• 2024 - Pat Hennessey
• 2023 - Jim Nicholson
• 2022 - Tom Barone
• 2020 - Jim and Bobbi Lepi
• 2019 - Tom Sieber
• 2018 - Thomas M. Lyall
• 2017 - Dr. William T. Stewart and Charles T. Stewart, Jr.
• 2016 - Larry Triplett
• 2015 - Mark Moyer
• 2014 - Clay Graham
• 2013 - Rob Joseph
• 2012 - Bill Straker
• 2011 - Randy Coconis
• 2010 - Richard H. McClelland
• 2009 - Dan Hennessey
• 2008 - Robert D. Goodrich, II
• 2007 - Robert and Leona Fellers
• 2006 - William F. Randles
• 2005 - Robert Kessler
• 2004 - John Matesich
• 2003 - Carroll Fink
• 2002 - Norma "Dorbie" Littick
• 2001 - Jack Downing
• 2000 - Dick Johnson