Greencastle resident receives state award

Friday, September 25, 2009
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar presents Ruth Ralph of Greencastle with the 2009 Dick Lugar Health and Fitness Award. Also pictured is Lugar's wife, Charlene.

INDIANAPOLIS -- On Sept. 19, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar honored Ruth Ralph of Greencastle for her commitment to health and fitness with the Dick Lugar Health and Fitness Award, presented as part of the 31st Annual Dick Lugar Community Run, Walk.

Lugar's wife, Char, announced the recipients while the senator handed out the awards.

Ralph has been the Executive Director of the Johnson Nichols Health Clinic for 30 years. The clinic started as a small group of volunteers in Putnam County and, under her direction and vision, further grew to serve Owen County as well.

More than 30,800 individuals and families in need are served yearly by the clinics, which champion behavioral health services by advocating preventative health practices, children's health physicals and immunizations, prenatal substance abuse prevention, free lead testing and administration of the Women, Infants and Children's Supplemental food program.

All clients are provided with an educational review of proper nutrition, exercise and smoking cessation and/or smoke-free benefits.

More than 500 individuals and families are served annually by the community health centers.

Ralph's passion for her work at the Clinic has inspired her to seek out additional revenue sources in order to keep the clinics successfully operational.

She has written innumerable grant proposals and monitored compliance with grant requirements in order to maintain and further the aimed goals.

Her impact on her community extends beyond these clinics.

She is a Board member of the Putnam County Board of Health, a member of the Putnam County Health Coalition, member of the American Promise addressing the issue of school drop-outs, a member of the Tobacco Cessation Committee and the Greencastle Community School Corporation Committee on Coordinated School Health Programming. She also serves on the Indiana State Department of Health's Osteoporosis and Prenatal Advisory Committees.

The Dick Lugar Health and Fitness Award, given in memory of Ray Sears, was established in 1984 to honor Hoosiers who have made outstanding contributions in promoting fitness and health.

Ray Sears, a friend of Lugar's and a 1985 award winner, died in April 1989. Lugar presents the award each year in honor of Sears' life and commitment to physical fitness and health.

The other 2009 recipient was Jerry Jones, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School cross country coach, for his contribution to the health and wellness of students in Indianapolis , Indiana.

The 31st Annual Dick Lugar Community Run, Walk was held on the campus of Butler University. In conjunction with the event, Lugar hosted the annual Health Fair at Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler.

This year's Health Fair was sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and St.Vincent Health and featured more than 40 vendors offering health information and nine different health screenings.

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  • Ruth definitely deserves this award! Congratulations.

    -- Posted by just a local on Fri, Sep 25, 2009, at 8:49 AM
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