The Ararat Ruritan Club celebrated its 70th anniversary on Saturday, January 7. It was chartered on January 9, 1953, with 29 members and was sponsored by the Critz Ruritan Club. Ruritan National President Glen and First Lady Linda Broadwater were in attendance for the festivities and participated in some of the awards presentations.
Mary Slate was presented with a Ruritan Forever plaque and pin. This award was voted on by the current members of Ararat club and relieves Slate of her dues for life. Slate has been a member of the Ararat Ruritan Club since 2009 and has served in many capacities. This year, she is the secretary, and she is pictured with the president and first lady of Ruritan National and her granddaughter and husband.
The highest honor to be bestowed upon a Ruritan is a Tom Downing Fellow. Mary Dellenback Hill was presented this award (plaque and pin) by two of the club’s recipients, Merlin Scales and Micheal Noonkester. Pictured with Ms. Hill are three of her four children – Christy Hill Bennett, Joshua HIll and Clint Hill. Caleb lives out of state and was unable to attend.
The club hosted around 60-70 people on Saturday who fellowshipped, reminisced and enjoyed cake and ice cream.
During its regular business meeting a couple of days before the celebration, the club presented Laura Hausler a check for the PARC workshop. The Ararat Ruritan Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 4711 Ararat Highway at 7 p.m.
If you would like to know more about Ruritan, call Kevin Smith, the district’s lieutenant governor at (276) 229-6493.
