Ramunno was born on October 25, 1931, in Trinidad. He was known as a beloved coach and teacher and served his community in many ways. This year’s Larson Award winner is Carl Ramunno. Now, Verna greatly enjoys her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, volunteering, and playing cards with friends. ![]() Blaine and Verna had two children, Lynn and Sue. In addition to ranching with her husband, she usually worked in town for extra money. She worked hard on her family’s cattle ranch, where they also raised horses, chickens, grains, spinach, and lettuce, and, like most rural kids, gardened and was active in 4-H.Īfter she married her husband Blaine when he got out of the service, they eventually bought a ranch north of Phippsburg. Her father had been a rural mail carrier. She was one of five siblings of homesteading parents who had arrived in Routt County in the late 1800s. For decades, she has been an active part of the Phippsburg and Toponas communities and, recently, the effort to revive the heritage and programs at the Toponas Community Center. Her community involvement includes Phippsburg town trustee, 4-H leader, Routt County Fair, Future Farmers of America, local schools, and more. Proceeds from the thrift shop support the upkeep of the town and parks in the unincorporated town of Phippsburg. There, she sorts through donations and organizes them for sale. Whaley also volunteers regularly at the What’s New Thrift Shop in Phippsburg. She said her father ensured she always considered others, a lesson she took to heart. “It’s just me,” Whaley said at the 2003 ‘11s Club’ award ceremony. She was known to spend hours assisting fellow neighbors in need. In years past, she would take them to the grocery store, the doctor’s office, or wherever they needed to go. Whaley is well known for her regular visits to check on her neighbors. For both awards, Whaley was selected primarily for her compassion, friendship with her elderly neighbors, and commitment as a community volunteer. The “11s Club” in South Routt also celebrated Whaley in 2003. This is not the first time Whaley has been honored for her giving spirit. Whaley, now 96, continues to exemplify the spirit of the award focused on giving back to the community. The awards committee selected lifelong South Routt resident Verna Decker Whaley for this year’s Leckenby Pioneer Award. Bill Baldwin, Mary Jean Perry, Bud and Jane Romberg, Donna Hellyer, Judy Green, Peter “Mike” Yurich, Bill McKelvie, Bill Gay, Jim Stanko, Jerry Green, Marion Gibson, Noreen Moore, Paul and Ellen Bonnifield, Jack Sprengle, and Arianthe Stettner. Past recipients of the Leckenby Award: Ferry Carpenter, Walt Webber, Lewis Phillips, Ayliffe and Henry Zehner, Dorothy Wither, John "Doc" Utterback, Margaret Rossi, Val Fitzpatrick, Bobby Robinson Sr., Evelyn and Quentin Semotan, Gordy Wren, Eldon Brummett, Effie Baily, Eleanor Bliss, Vernon Summer, Marvin Elkins, Pat Holderness, Lowell Whiteman, Dee Richards, Don Lufkin, Pete Wither, Elaine Gay, Bill Bowes, Natalie Stanko, Linda Long, Frances Wither, Sam Haslem, Dr. Are involved with the community, responsive to community needs, and serve as representatives of the history of the community. ![]() Have lived a total of 30 years or more in the county, but do not have to be living here now.Ģ. The nominees for the Leckenby Pioneer Award:ġ. Awardees have often inspired the next generation by working with youth and others, are dedicated to preserving local history, and make the community a better place to live for all. The museum calls for nominations from the public each year to assure community-wide representation.įor both awards, the committee considers the individual's involvement in community activities such as volunteerism, supporting organizations, and serving on various boards and advisory groups. Since 1982, the museum has presented the Stanley L. ![]() Since 1980, the museum has bestowed the Leckenby Pioneer Award to a living person in Routt County. These citizens have served our public institutions, preserved our local history, or contributed significantly to the county's heritage. Every year the Leckenby and Larson Awards Committee, associated with the Tread of Pioneers Museum, presents two awards that honor persons who have enriched the quality of life in Routt County.
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