Elk Of The Year & Elk Hall of Fame Chair
Richard Threadgill, PER
Berea #1815
It is the privilege of any Lodge of the Ohio Elks Association to nominate one or more of its members for consideration as “Elk of the Year” or for the “Elks Hall of Fame.” Every Lodge has at least one member who is there to help all the time to lend a helping hand or aid as needed for lodge projects.
Please take the time to review your membership and send your nomination forward to the State Association. Nearly every lodge is already recognizing these amazing members at the lodge level, so why not take this recognition to the next level and honor their dedication with our fellow brothers and sisters across the entire Buckeye State!
Get a committee together and write your candidate’s application and send it to the Satet Association. While every member that is submitted is likely worthy of this honor, it is guaranteed that no one can be honored unless lodges apply.
These awards allow our organization to recognize our outstanding members or groups and is also a way to share the opportunity and meaning of “Pouring Yourself into Elkdom” to others in your lodge and your community.
The “Elk of the Year” is to recognize an Elk’s work in your lodge, community and/or district.
The “Hall of Fame” should be for an Elk, a group of Elks, a Community Service Group that supports the mission of the Ohio Elks Association, or a Group within the lodge that is active outside the lodge in their community, district, or state and supports and promotes a Lodge.
Every District should make sure that it is represented in the state level contest. Please use the official entry form (link below) and submit it to Richard Threadgill at bereaelk@gmail.com by December 31, 2025.
Award recipients will be acknowledged at the Ohio Elks State Convention in April of 2026.
2025 Elk Of The Year
Jason Ignaffo, PDDGER
Greenville Lodge #1139
Jason Ignaffo has been a member of the Greenville Elks Lodge #1139 for 25 years. Despite his busy work schedule, he has always been an active member. He has served in every position of the lodge including Trustee and every chair through ER, where he served multiple terms. Jason served the Southeast District as DDGER in 2023/4 and has served on numerous lodge committees.
During the 2024/5 Lodge year, Jason continued to serve the Lodge as Esquire. He has always been accommodating in this position, offering flexibility for orientation of new members. He has a great knowledge of the workings of Elks and passes this information to new members during orientation. He has helped new members sign up for our Lodge’s 250 Club and regularly donates to CP, ENF, Veterans, Youth Programs, and the Endowment.
Jason is someone our officers regularly look up to and value his opinion and experiences. He is in charge of our web operations as well as our bimonthly newsletter. He never hesitates to volunteer to help where he can.
He has dressed as Elroy the Elk during Red Ribbon Week and our Family Fun Day. He is great with kids, always dancing and having fun while sharing the message to stay drug free. He has even dressed
He has worked to help ensure our events are organized and run smoothly. He has even dressed as Santa for our Breakfast with Santa at our lodge and with others organizations within our community.
Jason has always been willing to step in where he can to help the lodge save money when making repairs to the facility. He promotes the lodge and Elkdom in everything he does.
Jason Ignaffo of Greenville Lodge #1139 is the 2025 Ohio Elks Association Elk of the Year, pictured with his father, Past State President Lugene Ignaffo.
2025 Elk Hall of Fame Inductee
Teresa Minarchick
Lakewood Lodge #1350
Teresa Minarchick has been a tireless advocate for the future of the Ohio Elks Association through her persistent and dedicated attention to the establishment and continued development of the Ohio Elks Association Endowment Fund.
Teresa’s dedication to the cause has helped grow the Endowment to where it is today where it can soon benefit communities across Ohio for decades to come.
Teresa’s work over the years is not limited to just the Endowment. She has been stalwart advocate for Elkdom in everything she does in her lodge, with the State Association, and within her community.
Teresa Minarchick of Lakewood Lodge #1350 is the 2025 inductee into the Ohio Elks Association Hall of Fame, pictured with her husband, PSP Jack Minarchick.
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 - No Awardee
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 - Not Awarded
2023 - Jon Felice - Willoughby/Cleveland
2024 - Roger Crowe - Kenton
2025 - Teresa Minarchik - Lakewood
Elks Hall of Fame Inductees
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
2024 - Rex Coldwell - Marion
2025 - Jason Ignaffo - Greenville