WINONA LAKE - Mary Louise Miller and Deb Wilcoxson received the Bill Reneker Community Service Award Wednesday night.
The award was presented by Judy Reneker Burd during the annual Winona Lake Community Dinner at Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake.
Bill Reneker was president of the Winona Lake Town Council when he died in 1993."He had a strong appreciation of our town's spiritual and cultural heritage and a hope for what it could be in the future," said his widow Burd.
The award is given annually to an individual who is recommended by the town council and works toward the betterment of the community and gives back.
This is the first year there were two recipients of the award.
Mary Louise's husband Dane and Deb's husband Brent have received the award in the past.
"Behind every man is a great woman and that certainly has been true of our honorees, who have encouraged, supported and in fact been a team with their spouses over the years as they have given above and beyond themselves and their families in Winona," Burd said.
She said Mary Louise has been a Winona Lake resident since 1974, with the exception of two years, and has built two homes on Winona Lake.
"Through she and her husband's foundation, they have given generously and often anonymously to every area of this community that they love and live in," Burd said.
She said Wilcoxson also has been an asset to the town.
"As the Village at Winona concept was being fleshed out in an MBA thesis she was the sounding board, editor, the realist and encourager for all the ideas and thoughts that went into it," Burd said.
Over the past several years Burd said Wilcoxson's most visible contribution to the town has been daily litter patrol.
"Considering she has walked every day over the past 8-1/2 years and has collected trash each day, she has probably been responsible for collecting nearly dump trucks full of trash with her own hands, trash that in many cases would have ended up in the lake," Burd said.
Also during the dinner, Jeff Carroll received a plaque for his year's of service on the council.
He served on the council since 2000 and will be replaced by Randolph Swanson.
Home Improvement Awards went to Michael and Marcia Horton, 1503 Park Ave.; Michelle Hershberger, 1106 Chestnut St.; and Tyler and Kaley Egli, 201 15th St.
Music was provided by "Stovepipe Holler" performed by John Davis, J.D. Woods and Lowell Dobbs. and Classic Catering provided food for the dinner.
Village Spa, which opened in May, was recognized as a new business in the town.
