Elk of the Year

After a successful Military career his second career brought him to Ohio in 1978. Upon arriving to Ohio he was introduced to the Elks and became a member. He is currently a 45 year Life Member of his Lodge. Once he was initiated into his Lodge he became very active. In 1979 he became a Lodge Officer and advanced thru the Lodge chairs to become his Lodges Exalted Ruler in 1983. After he served as Exalted Ruler he served his Lodge as Treasurer, Trustee and Secretary for many years.

 Over the years as an Elk he has Chaired Many Committees at his Lodge including Drug Awareness, Hoop Shoot, Feather Party, Hangover Party, 300 Club, 200 Club, Veterans Committee and Euchre Club. Even with his declining health he serves as Inner Guard and Lodge Advisor at his Lodge.

 Even while staying busy at his Lodge he took the time to serve as the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler in 2004.

The 2023 Elk of the Year is from Maumee/Bowling Green #1850 
Harry J. Crooks

Elks Hall of Fame

“The Man Behind the Scenes”. That’s how the members of his Lodge described this years recipient of the Ohio Elks Hall of Fame. He has been a member of the order for 31 years. He advanced thru the Chairs of his Lodge and became the Lodge Exalted Ruler in 1996-1997. He currently serves as his Lodge Treasurer where He donates half his salary back to his Lodge . While serving his lodge he also advanced thru his District and became the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler in 2007-2008. He also serves as his Lodge Grant Chairman .Under his leadership his lodge averages $10,000 dollars a year toward charitable projects using the Gratitude, Spotlight, Freedom, Community Service and recently the Beacon grant. Over the past 20 years with his guidance his Lodge has donated funds to every Police and Fire Dept. in Lake County and many in Geauga County.

This is a man that certainly furthers the Cardinal Principles of are order. Just before Christmas as most of you know the weather was very nasty. During this nasty weather he orchestrated bagging up warm clothing, recruiting other members of his Lodge to help, and delivered them to the VA in Cleveland and to Veterans in Geauga County.

He volunteers his time with various outreach groups such as the Euclid Hunger Task Force , End 68 Hours of Hunger, The Mckinley Outreach Center and Little Annies Hope Train ( Serves Homeless Veterans).

How Many of you have ever tried to Spatchcock a Turkey. This Gentleman was donated a 40 lb. turkey, was challenged to Spatchcock it.So he goggled  how to Spatchcock a Turkey, Then he found someone to cook it in a commercial kitchen, He invited the American Legion to his lodge to make sandwiches with the turkey .They made 98 Sandwiches from the Turkey and Donated them to the Veterans Resource Center in Cleveland.

This past summer he partnered with the Gary Luster Memorial Fund and raised $4,000 Dollars for his Lodges Veterans programs .

If you pass by his house in Mentor you will see a half dozen Bicycles sitting in his Driveway. They are all donations from friends that drop them off to try to help him meet his goal that every child should have a bike of their own. He either repairs them or has them repaired all at his expense then donates them to organizations in need . He has donated over 100 Bicycles to his Community.

He is described as a First Responder. He has completed the Ohio 240 firefighter class and Does Volunteer work at his Fire Department. But he is the First Responder to his community when he hears of a need.

While doing all of this work that he loves for his lodge and Community he never seeks credit or gets in any pictures . He is the guy taking the pictures.

The Ohio Elks Hall of Fame award goes Willoughby/ Cleveland Lodge # 18
PDDGER,  Jon Felice

Elks Hall of Fame Inductees

Elk of the Year Recipients

PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1960

1960 - Dr. E. J. McCormick – Toledo
1961 - James A. Rhodes – Columbus
1962 - W. W. “Woody” Hayes – Columbus
1963 - Billy Southworth – Kenton
1964 - Ted Lewis – Circleville
1965 - Robert “Lefty” Grove – Norwalk
1966 - Jack Cannon – Columbus
1967 - Ray H. Perry – Martins Ferry
1968 - John Laslo – Martins Ferry
1969 - M. E. “Jack” Sensenbrenner – Columbus
1970 - Judge James A. Ravella – Warren
1971- John D. Quinn – Sidney
1972 - William H. Harsha, Jr. – Portsmouth
1973 - Wayne T. “Curley” Smart – Delaware
1974 -Richard Gallagher – Ironton
1975 - Harry C. Bauhan – Dayton
1976 - H. H. “Mike” Stoops – Portsmouth
1977 - Not Awarded
1978 - Frank W. Wiley – Toledo
1979 - Robert J. Secrest – Cambridge
1980 - Earl L. Schreiber – North Canton
1981 - Jackson E. Betts – Findlay
1982 - Donald R. Ford – Warren
1983 - Robert “Joe” Hibbard – Massillon
1984 - Keith Boals - Ashland
1985 - Jerry Dunlap – Ashland
1986 - Richard P. “Rick” Wolfe – Ashland
1987 - Russell K. Doan – Elyria
1988 - William H. Shank – Warren
1989 - Edward C. Arn – Wooster
1990 - Lloyd “Toby” Tobias – Lancaster
1991 - John L. Johnson – Napoleon
1992 - Dr. David S. Goldschmidt – Circleville
1993 - David A. Laslow – Marysville
1994 - Loreto George – Barberton
1995 - Frank C. Dawson – East Liverpool
1996 - J. Warren Battis – Salem
1997 - Thomas D. Lambros – Ashtabula
1998 - Philip E. Hahn, Sr. – Elyria
1999 - Paul G. Basner – North Canton
2000 - Bill Derry – Van Wert
2001 - Michael J. Grigsby – Marysville
2002 - Richard Hougland – Chillicothe
2003 - Susan M. Scott – Port Clinton
2004 - Frederic C. LaFrance – Marysville
2005 - Ralph R. Jones – Wooster
2006 - Edward J. Helt, Jr. – Washington C. H.
2007 - David W. Straight – Parma
2008 - Pamela Shaw – Dayton
2009 - Hon. Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. – Ohio River Valley
2010 - James A. Sommer -- Greenville
2011 - No Awardee
2012 - No Awardee
2013 - Tim M. Churchill − Swanton
2014 - Carl R. Dobbins −Jackson
2015 - W. Eric McCracken – Van Wert
2016 - Debra Bingham – Marysville
2017 - Larry Clement – Willoughby/Cleveland
2018 - Michael C. Stanley – Van Wert
2019 - Lee Young - Elyria
2020 - George Wulfert - Marietta
2021 - Steve “Preach” Pritchard - Newcomerstown
2022 - Jon Felice - Willoughby/Cleveland

1960 - William Routsong – Cleveland
1961 - Fred Lees – Toledo
1962 - Roy Terrell – Piqua
1963 - Tom Price – Zanesville
1964 - Eldon Brown – Columbus
1965 - Norman K. Funni – Lima
1966 - Nick Kovic – Warren
1967 - Lloyd “Cy” Varner – Alliance
1968 - Ivan R. Hesson – Tiffin
1969 - Carl S. Jackson – Van Wert
1970 - Ed Turner – Dayton
1971 - Leslie A. Douglas – Martins Ferry
1972 - Edward Patris – Barberton
1973 - Ralph Curfman – Galion
1974 - Marshal N. Shere – Bowling Green
1975 - Francis Cupp – Chillicothe
1976 - John F. Harmon – Columbus
1977 - Donald N. Wilkin – Newark
1978 - William E. Platten – Parma
1979 - Rev. Charles D. Hering, Sr. – Tiffin
1980 - Harry E. Schultz – Alliance
1981 - Irwin “Irv” Cohen – Toledo
1982 - Leo J. Reuss - Marysville
1983 - John M. Eccleston - East Liverpool
1984 - Louis Crow – Van Wert
1985 - Charles Newell – Ashland
1986 - Michael Gerig – Wooster
1987 - J. Kenneth Klinck – Marietta
1988 - John W. Bosart, Jr. – Marysville
1989 - Carl R. Dobbins – Jackson
1990 - E. L. “Gene” Koerber – Parma
1991 - Jack F. Stabner – Springfield
1992 - Peter Zeidner – Barnesville
1993 - Edward H. Murphy – Elyria
1994 - Robert E. Powell – Springfield
1995 - Clyde Bray – Ashland
1996 - Basil P. Wallace – Delaware
1997 - Jacob H. Frowine – Portsmouth
1998 - Donald W. Peters – Dover
1999 - Donald Flitcraft – Alliance
2000 - Dane Dysert – Wellsville
2001 - James E. Ekelberry – Delaware
2002 - Edward Kalmers – Conneaut
2003 - William J. Ashton – Martins Ferry
2004 - Edward J. Kentner – Ravenna
2005 - Allen D. Zimmerman – Van Wert
2006 - Donald L. Garling, Sr. – Dayton
2007 - Scott Procopio – Washington Court House
2008 - Garrison “Muggs” McGinnis – Marion
2009 - George “Sonny” King – Chillicothe
2010 - William Willis – Alliance
2011 - Donald Winter – Willoughby/Cleveland
2012 - Deb Bingham – Marysville  
2013 - Charles VanDyne – Kenton
2014 - Kevin Richardson − Findlay
2015 - Jerry Michael – Lebanon
2016 - David Noren – Elyria
2017 - Mike Mason – Springfield
2018 - Larry D. Wise – Newark
2019 - Sue Fox Buroker - Kenton
2020 - P. R. Marshall - Washington C. H.
2021 - David L. Ryan - East Liverpool
2022 - Alvie Pelfrey - Jackson
2023 - Harry J. Crooks - Maumee/Bowling Green