Centennial Memory #59: International DSA to Kalodner

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

Yesterday's post, we talked about the Distinguished Service Award, in which a recipient was determined for each jurisdiction. DeMolay International also awarded an International DSA to one of the recipients chosen from each jurisdiction, per term. In 1973, the distinction for the winter term went to a PMC of Chester Chapter, Brother David R. Kalodner.

A summary of his achievements is found in the picture below, which is from the December edition of the DeMolay International Cordon Magazine.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin 

Centennial Memory #60: Distinguished Service Awards in Pennsylvania

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

DeMolay has many honors and awards that can be earned throughout time spent in the organization. One of those prestigious awards is the Distinguished Service Award.

The Distinguished Service Award is one that can be applied for. Letters of recommendation are required from various activities of everyday life; home, school, religion, community, and DeMolay. A summary needs to be provided proving the service completed in each of these areas. The Executive Officer takes all letters into consideration and determines the recipient. An award is given for two six month terms of the year, allowing two recipients per year if applicable.

Here are all of the recipients of the Distinguished Service Award from Pennsylvania:

1960: James M. Morgan - McKeesport
1960: Leland G. Almes - Greenville
1960: Robert Stark - Chester
1960: Richard R. Shunk - Wilbur
1961: William M. Young - West Shore
1962: None Awarded
1963: Raymond Moyer - Fellowship
1963: Raymond H. Thrush - Lincoln
1963: Kenneth B. Muhleisen - Chester
1964: Arthur L. Shaffer - West Shore
1964: John E. Suddoth - West Shore
1965: None Awarded
1966: Park E. Deitz - West Shore
1967: Robert T. Holland - West Shore
1967: Wayne L. Garrett - Chester
1968: Charles A. Rothermel - Chester
1969: Melvin J. Wolpert, III - Pilgrim
1969: Robert L. Taylor - Reading
1970: None Awarded
1971: David S. Forster - Reading
1972: Stephen R. Logan - Pilgrim
1972: Dennis E. Yeingst - Carlisle
1973: David R. Kalodner - Chester
1974: Darryl R. Sycher - Allentown
1975: None Awarded
1976: William S. Shillady - Reading
1976: Mark Volz - Delaware Valley
1977: None Awarded
1978: Kenneth B. Rizzo - Friendship-Bray
1979: Harry G. Camic - McKeesport
1980: None Awarded
1981: Edward J. White - Allentown
1982: Jess A. Leidig, III - George Washington
1983: Eric C. Johnson - Delaware Valley
1984: Christopher S. Schnabel - Lafayette
1984: Steven Schappell - Lafayette
1985: Randy Boone - Lafayette
1985: Scott A. Brooks - George Washington
1986: Peter S. Seibert - Pilgrim
1986: Val W. Finnell - Fidelity
1987: Brent D. Richards - Susquehanna
1988: None Awarded
1989: David Groh - Allentown
1989: David Messner - Pilgrim
1990: John C. Tynan - Lorraine
1991: Kris G. Sabin - Fidelity
1991: Kevin Sciullo - Kiski Valley
1992: William W. Burch - Erie
1992: Mark D. Wagner - Reading
1993: Michael J. Preletz - Reading
1993: Matthew A. Curtin - Somerton
1994: Jason B. Stains - George Washington
1994: A. Nathaniel Croumer - Elizabethtown
1995: Jason R. Solano - Pilgrim
1995: Mark J. Preletz - Reading
1996: Robert R. Nye - Elizabethtown
1996: Jeffrey R. Kline - Elizabethtown
1997: John K. Saltzgueber - Somerton
1997: Erik K. Paisley - Allentown
1998: Daniel J. Forrer - Reading
1998: Gregory M. Schaeffer - Elizabethtown
1999: Kevin D. Luy - Elizabethtown
1999: Rakesh Kumar - Allentown
2000: George M. Stauffer - Reading
2001: Keith A. Bortz Jr. - Reading
2001: Christopher M. Fry - Elizabethtown
2002: None Awarded
2003: Justin D. Killian - Elizabethtown
2004: Stephen L. Prazenica - Elizabethtown
2004: Seth C. Anthony - Erie
2005: Stephen R. Logan Jr. - Elizabethtown
2005: Chad G. Reichard - George Washington
2006: David A. Labagh - Elizabethtown
2007: Michael L. Brown - Elizabethtown
2007: Joseph A. Pullin - Northeast
2008: Michael R. Labagh - Elizabethtown
2009: Matthew S. Maple - George Washington
2010: W. Thomas Moyer - Pilgrim
2011: Matthew A. Traverso - George Washington
2012: Jeffrey R. Hample - Northeast
2013: Colton M. Swindler - Carlisle
2014: None Awarded
2015: None Awarded
2016: None Awarded
2017: Alex M. Spence - Elizabethtown
2017: Brandon S. Whited - Northeast

Who will be the next recipients of the award? Apply for it and find out.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Make Yourself Feel Distinguished!

Have you done a lot of work for your local community or taken an active role within your church? Do you continue to get good grades in school and help out with responsibilities at home or in DeMolay? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was some type of recognition for all of this hard work? Well there is, and it has always been available for any DeMolay who wants to earn it.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding overall service performed by a DeMolay member. The areas of service include religion, community, DeMolay, education and home, among others. A jurisdiction can award two recipients per year, one for each half of the DeMolay year. The award is typically awarded at the annual convention; however it has been awarded at other events at the Executive Officer’s discretion. For example, since I couldn’t make convention, my DSA was awarded to me at the 2008 Basketball Tournament.

This sounds great, but how do I apply? There is no formal application for this award. Rather, the applicant, working with the Advisory Council, will need to assemble a package of materials demonstrating his service in various areas. The Advisory Council generally assists in soliciting recommendations from individuals who have worked with the applicant in various areas of service. The nomination for the Award officially comes from the Advisory Council, though a member may apply for his own nomination through his Advisory Council.

The Distinguished Service Award has not been awarded in Pennsylvania since 2013, meaning for two years no one has applied for this award. If you know someone that is eligible for this award, click here for the list of materials needed to apply.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin