Knox Ruritan Club presented scholarships to area students at the June meeting. From left, club president Dexter Sams, secretary Mel Albrecht, scholarship recipient Katelyn Bondoni, treasurer Dennis Cameron, scholarship recipient Nate Legros and National Ruritan mascot Rudy Bear (Terry Blickensderfer). (Submitted photo)

The Knox Ruritan Club met on June 20 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in North Georgetown.

The club celebrated their 50th anniversary with two charter members present, Terry Blickensderfer and Lee Johnson. Ohio District Governor Dave Wingett presented the club with a certificate from Ruritan National.

Members’ spouses were invited to the June meeting along with scholarship winners and their parents. Club secretary Mel Albrecht introduced members and their guests along with scholarship winners Nate Legros, who will attend technical school to become an electrical technician, and Katelyn Bondoni, who is majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Mount Union.

Following the meal provided by Kathy Reichenbach and some women of the church, Blickensderfer gave a presentation, offering information about the beginning of the club and what they do.

“In checking the June 1974 charter membership, we have lost 28 of 34 members to date,” he said. “The charter comprised of one businessman, one milk hauler and the rest farmers.”

He highlighted some of the club’s accomplishments over the last 50 years. The community-minded club was in need of a baseball field and member and local butcher Jeff Rose offered one. In 1996, a new location had to be found and Clayton Conrad (now deceased), who was a member of Bethel Church, asked if the club could lease a part of the ground owned by the church to make into sports fields. “It has been said that some 400 to 450 kids play every year,” said Blickensderfer. Several scrap books were on display showing various club projects which include helping place flags on graves at Memorial Day, Adopt-A-Highway, along with five other Ruritan Clubs in Zone 6, the donation of reading books to all West Branch third graders, provide financial assistance to Bethel Church for the food pantry, Boys State and offer financial assistance to Homeworth and North Georgetown Fire Departments.

“We have received many awards for community service,” said Blickensderfer. “The last five years we have received the Ruritan Blue Ribbon Award a long with president and secretary awards.”

Fundraisers include pedal tractor pulls, dunk tank and the sale of spaghetti sauce made by the Albrecht family. The club sells a community calendar with names of family members and friends birthdays, anniversaries and memoriums. The calendar also advertises local businesses. To purchase a calendar, ad or listings, contact any club member.