Lyle Baker Receives Top United Way Award

            Gene Workman was a cornerstone of our United Way, and after his passing, the Orrville Area United Way Board of Directors renamed their highest award to celebrate his memory of extraordinary volunteerism and service to our community.  The first recipient of the United Way Lifetime Achievement award, presented in 1987, was Donna Dale Davis.  Other past recipients include Steve Seifried, Mickey Workman, Chuck Dolezal, Mike Guster, Bruce Schantz, Bob Maiwurm, Herb Sollenberger, Mitzi Geiser, Dave Davis, Frank Seifried, Bob & Jessie Hershey, Paul J. Paparone, Gene Workman, Judy Kropf, Patti Ayers, Wilma Raynor, Lynn V. Horner, Rod Steiger, Jack Runion, Dr. Jack Kristofco, Karen Milley and Harold Berkey.

This year’s award went to Orrville City Council President Lyle Baker, Sales Manager for The Quality Castings Company in Orrville.  Making the presentation was 2011 recipient Harold Berkey.

“Tonight we honor a volunteer who has given freely of his time, talent ingenuity and resources for many years, assuring the ongoing success of our annual campaigns.  This volunteer served two 3-year terms on the United Way board of directors, continues to serve on the Citizen Review Committee, served on the Resource Development & Marketing Committee and is still a member of the Events Committee.  Every year he delivers water and donuts for our Day of Caring workers, and grabs us a prime spot for the annual Independence Day parade in Orrville.  Tonight, he seems to be incognito, posing as Percy the Live United Penguin!” said Berkey, adding, “we all thank him for his commitment and dedication to our United Way’s mission, and his willingness to lead by example.”

“And because we know it takes two to tango, we thank his wife Colleen for her support of his considerable contributions to our community,” said Berkey, and presented her with a beautiful flower arrangement donated by The Bouquet Shop.