Willoughby Rotary to Present the Distinguished Citizen and Distinguished Civic Organization Awards January 30, 2006

Willoughby, OH, December 10, 2005 - On January 30, 2006, the Rotary Club of Willoughby will honor Mort and Flo O’Ryan with the Distinguished Citizen Award and the Salvation Army with the Distinguished Civic Organization Award.  The awards will be presented at a luncheon at Pineridge Country Club.  A buffet lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until Noon. The awards ceremony starts promptly at Noon.  The cost of the lunch is $13.00 per person.  The event is open to the public.  Reservations and payment must be made in advance.  Please contact Roberta, at Nationwide Insurance - The Merhar Agency, at (440) 946-2040.  Payment must be made by check and received by January 23, 2006.  Please make checks payable to the Willoughby Rotary Club. Payment may be mailed to Distinguished Citizen/Civic Organization Award, Attn: Roberta, 4077 Clark Avenue, Willoughby, OH 44094.

Mort and Flo O’Ryan will be honored, with the Distinguished Citizen Award, for their significant contributions to the community, particularly their hometown of Willoughby Hills.  Mort O’Ryan is a former Mayor of the City of Willoughby Hills.  Together, the O’Ryans were influential in establishing the new Willoughby Hills Community Center and library.  They are also are long-time members of the Willoughby Hills Lions Club.

The Distinguished Civic Organization Award will be awarded to the Salvation Army.  The mission of the Salvation Army has endured time.  It can be summed up in a single word.  "Others!" was the simple, powerful charge that the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, sent to his staff in 1911. The mission of the Salvation Army remains the same today – reaching others with the love of God in their time of need.  Now serving in over 111 countries around the world, the Salvation Army marches onward.  Serving the Painesville area since 1889, the Salvation Army is commanded by Majors Thomas and Susan Hinzman, who are ably assisted by a skilled team of Christian employees, and a volunteer Advisory Board comprised of 21 prominent business, professional and civic leaders.  Today, after 116 years of dedicated service to this community, the Salvation Army stays true to their mission to attend to the physical and spiritual needs of helping people.

The Willoughby Rotary Club is proud to continue the tradition of these awards.  The Distinguished Citizen Award has been awarded to 107 individuals since it was established in 1956 by the Willoughby Area Chamber of Commerce.  In 1989 the Chamber began honoring Distinguished Civic Organizations and Distinguished Businesses.