Published: May 10, 2008 05:51 pm            

Longtime community volunteers receive Bales Humanitarian Award

For 10 years, the Clark Country Red Cross has honored 15 Southern Indiana residents for noble efforts to better the community with the Bales’ Humanitarian Award.

This year, the organization is honoring five more: the Rev. Tom Clegg; Phyllis and Charles Garmon; Dr. Gordon and Marty Gutmann; Jack and Marilyn Waldrip; and Judge Cecile Blau.

The honorees will be recognized at the Bales’ Humanitarian Gala being held at Kye’s on June 5.



Jack and Marilyn Waldrip

Since moving to Southern Indiana in 1955, the Waldrips have been very active in the community, and because of their community efforts, they will receive the award

“I was a little overwhelmed,” Marilyn said. “And very touched that my peers thought enough of me to nominate me.”

Marilyn has been a member of the Bales Humanitarian Gala committee since its beginning in 1998, and she has seen many people honored with this award throughout the years.

“It’s just very special,” she said. “To be included with the list of people that have been nominated over the years who have done some wonderful things for this community, the state of Indiana and outside the state of Indiana.”

Marilyn is very active with the Red Cross. She also volunteers her time for the Howard Steamboat Museum, as well as her church — First Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville. Jack is a member of the Rotary Club of Jeffersonville, as well as a board member for the Howard Steamboat Museum and the Carnegie Library Foundation and former president of the Jeffersonville Little League and Youth Football.

“It’s always important to be involved in the community to give back what the community has given to you,” Jack said. “If you’re fortunate enough to live in a community like this, there are a lot of good things going on and you need to give back.”



The Rev. Tom Clegg

The Rev. Tom Clegg doesn’t think twice when he does something for the community. For him, it is part of his job. But someone thought twice about the things Clegg does and nominated him for the award.

“I was really surprised,” Clegg said. “ I knew someone had nominated me, but having attended last year, and seeing what all the recipients did, I thought, go ahead and nominate me — there is no way I’ll get it. I am just doing my job with the stuff that I do, so I really was surprised.”

This honor is not only a surprise for Clegg, but also a sense of validation for him about his job.

“I think whenever you’re honored for something, you feel a little bit humbled,” Clegg said. “And I’m pleased that people recognize something in me that I think stems from my Christian faith. It tells me that people recognize I’m doing a good job.”

Clegg plans to use this honor and experience as a way to encourage others to participate in their community.



Charles and Phyllis Garmon

Being recognized for community involvement is something the Garmons have gone through before. In the past, they’ve received the Chancellor’s Medallion Award, the Servant Leader Award and business awards from the Chamber of Commerce.

“The things we do, we don’t do it to be honored or anything of that nature,” Charles said. “We just as well be forgotten about.”

Phyllis said she feels most of the recipients of this award feel the same way.

“We just do them because we feel it’s something we want to do for the community,” she said. “When you do things for your community, you really receive back in return, because of all the people we’ve gotten to know when we’re doing these things. When you give to the community, you are going to get back more than what you give most the time.”

This award is particularly special to the Garmons, because it is named after Walter and Hazel Bales, two people they have a lot of admiration for.

“My husband and I knew him from all the way back to when we owned Key Communications,” Phyllis said. “We bought a lot of our vehicles from him and he was a man we greatly respected. I’ve gotten to know his wife, Hazel, and she’s a lady that I really admire.”



Judge Cecile A. Blau

For Judge Cecile Blau, receiving the award is a reminder. It’s a reminder of responsibility.

“I feel it reminds me of all of our responsibility to be active in our community and workplace,” she said. “It also makes me pretty humble, because I have a wonderful family, wonderful friends and a great job. That has allowed me to be very active and involved in the community. My prior employer, Stites and Harbeson, was very open to being actively involved in the community and it helps if your work place promotes and allows you to take time out of the day.”

Blau, who started Clark County Drug Court, as well as volunteered for the Red Cross, Ogle Foundation and Leadership of Southern Indiana, also is reminded of past recipients of the award.

“I was honored because in the past, really great people have received the award and I have known all of them. I have worked with them in the community, so it was a real honor to be named among them. Then secondly, when I heard the other recipients I thought what great company.

“I really do think it’s an honor to receive this award, especially when you take a look at the people who have received it in the past — Charlie Reisert, Bill Scott. They’ve all been people who have made a difference in our community. So being mentioned in their ranks is a great honor.”



Dr. Gordon and Marty Gutmann

The Gutmanns have volunteered their time in a variety of ways from the Women’s Foundation to providing health care to Southern Indiana residents. Their dedication to the community and its health has contributed to the award.

“It’s a very special award,” Marty said. “I don’t feel like I really deserve it. It means you’ve made a significant contribution to your community and that you give back to your community. Very devoted community members have won it before.”

The Gutmanns have been devoted community members. Marty has volunteered for Hospice of Southern Indiana, the Clark County Hospital Foundation, Leadership of Southern Indiana and the Women’s Foundation. Gordon has been a long time surgeon in the community. He said he is not very big on awards, but knows the Bales family and was pleased to be honored with such a nice award. He also looks forward to seeing his wife receive her award.

“I feel like it’s important to give back,” Marty said. “If everybody gave back a little bit, we certainly would be a better community for that. So if and when you can, I think it’s important to give back to try to help your community.

“I don’t know where any community would be if they didn’t have a lot of volunteer organizations that helped with various aspects of community involvement.”

— Jennifer Wyatt is a freelance journalist and lives in Clarksville.

        

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