The City of Arkansas City’s annual Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award presentation will be resurrected as part of a new Arkalalah tradition.
A special awards presentation ceremony and reception will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Wright Room at Cowley College’s Brown Center, located at 215 S. Second St. Social time starts at 5:45 p.m.
Recipients will be awarded for both 2017 and 2018. This award previously was given each year from 2008 through 2016 during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of Unity at Cowley College.
Among the recipients will be individuals involved with the 2017 restoration of the Wilson Park train.
“This award has always been given out in the Brown Center. For nine years, it was part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of Unity in the Robert Brown Theatre,” said Curtis Freeland, chairman of the Community Spirit Award Committee, which now administers this annual award.
“When Mr. Charles Jennings graciously agreed to take over the Celebration of Unity event a few years ago, it was agreed that he could start giving out his own award, the Spirit of Progress Award, while the City would reserve the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award for a different time of year. We quickly zeroed in on Arkalalah to create another nice tradition for this special celebratory week in Arkansas City.”
In addition to serving as the 10th anniversary of this distinguished and illustrious award, Tuesday night’s ceremony also will be very special in another way: The committee will, for the first time, honor a community member posthumously for his many contributions to Arkansas City when the late Marty Mutti is recognized with an award for Special Distinction in Community Service.
This award will be presented to Mutti’s family and friends at KSOK Radio, where he spent many years tirelessly promoting positive events in the community and giving back in countless ways. Mutti’s co-host at KSOK Radio, Shane Farley, will coordinate a multimedia presentation to celebrate Mutti’s life.
“We were greatly saddened by Marty’s unexpected passing and wanted to do something nice to remember his contributions,” Freeland said. “This is not something the Committee will give out every year. It is a special honor that will be reserved for only the most deserving and impactful individuals.”
Members of the committee and the City Commission will be present for the awards presentation.
There will be a reception following the ceremony, with free cookies and drinks provided by Great Western Dining. Community Spirit Award engraving services were made possible by Schmidt Jewelers.
About the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award
Joe B. Avery, a former member of the Ark City Human Relations Commission, passed away in 2008. He was the first recipient of a new award created in his honor, the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award.
Avery made a long-term commitment to effecting change in the community by identifying or creating resources that improved the quality of life for those who live in Arkansas City. He gave many years of service to Arkansas City in developing conversations and relationships that benefited the greater good.
