Warren receives Community Cornerstone Award

CornerBank has announced Jay Warren is the Community Cornerstone Award recipient for June. In recognition of his service, CornerBank will contribute $100 to the non-profit organization of Jay’s choice. Jay has selected Cub Scout Pack #328 to receive his contribution. A reception honoring Jay’s service will be at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, June 24, in the CornerBank community room, 125 N. Summit. The public is invited to attend the reception.

Jay currently is a City Commissioner for the City of Arkansas City and previously served as Mayor. He served as an Ark City Recreation Commissioner for 19 years and received the Ark City Recreation Commission Service Award. He has been a devoted member of Optimists for more than 20 years and works every year in the porkburger stand at Arkalalah. He received the Optimist of the Quarter Award in 2001 for outstanding service. He also is a member of Rotary Club, where he is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Jay coached and served as an officer for Ark City Takedown Club for more than 14 years and still occasionally assists the Club. He coached soccer for all three of his children and softball for both daughters. He has cooked for ACHS football, basketball and softball teams.

Jay attended First Presbyterian Church, where he taught Sunday school. About 15 years ago, he transferred membership to Central Christian Church, where he is a member of the New Horizons class, deacon, trustee and DMF. He cooks for the DMF, annual dinner theater, Mother – Daughter – Friend Banquet and the Thanksgiving dinner for the community.

Jay was born in Arkansas City to Ward and Mabel (Baird) Warren. He has two sisters, Jana and Jeri. He was raised on the family ranch near Silverdale and attended “country school” through 8th grade. He graduated from Newkirk High School where he played football, ran track and was senior class president. He attended New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M., and was an excellent marksman. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in economics.

He and his wife, Nancy, have three children: Chris, a plant manager at Frito-Lay in Topeka, his wife, Rachel, twin granddaughters and a grandson; daughter Dru, a teacher at Maize High School and her husband, Ben Walter; and daughter Molly, a senior at ACHS, who will be attending Cowley College on a softball scholarship.

Jay has made a career of hard work in the oil fields of Kansas and Oklahoma. He has had a secondary career of community service.

Jay was selected for the award by the Community Cornerstone Award selection committee, which includes Arleta Rice, Judy Reedy, Karl Faidley, Curt Freeland and Brenda Combs. All are previous recipients of the Cornerstone Award. Volunteers are the cornerstones of healthy communities. They’re on your corner – the people next door. They’re in your corner – helping make our community stronger. The Community Cornerstone Award recognizes the time and effort of volunteers dedicated to serving people and enhancing the quality of life in Cowley County. If you know of a Cowley County resident who has shown servant leadership in community service, contact Joyce McArtor at 442-6500 or joycem@cornerbanks.com for nomination guidelines.

Make a nomination via PDF.