Sturd receives Community Cornerstone Award

CornerBank has announced John Sturd is the Community Cornerstone Award recipient for September. In recognition of his service, CornerBank will contribute $100 to the non-profit organization of John’s choice. A reception honoring John’s service will be at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23, in the CornerBank community room, 125 N. Summit. The public is invited to attend the reception.

John served as chairman of the board for the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce in 2009 and has been on the Board since 2006. He serves on the board for Cowley County United Way and Cowley College Endowment Association. He is a member of the coordinating council and advisory council for Cowley First Economic Development Partnership and is a member of Rotary International. He is a member of the bank management committee for the Kansas Bankers Association. He is a former member of the Arkansas City Public Library Board, ACE Fund board and former chair and member of the City of Arkansas City Outstanding Student committee.

John is a current member of the USD 470 facilities naming committee and the athletics and activities study committee and was co-chair of the USD 470 bond issue campaign committee. He coached basketball teams (both boys and girls) for Ark City Recreation Commission for many years. He was formerly an Arkalalah Committee member and served as chair in 1990. He was instrumental in raising funds to bring the K-State Marching Band to Arkalalah in 2009.

John is a member of Central Christian Church, serving as elder, current chairman of the church’s long range planning committee, member of the Cabinet, former chair of the maintenance division, church singing group Reflections, active member of Disciples Men’s Fellowship, sings in the choir when needed and manages the projection system for Sunday worship.

He was raised in Arkansas City, graduating from Arkansas City High School in 1978. He attended Cowley County Community College on a tennis scholarship and earned an associate’s degree in 1980. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1982 with a degree in business administration (finance). John began full time employment with Home National Bank in 1982, having worked there part-time while attending college. He left Home National Bank in December 2004 and joined Union State Bank as President in January 2005. He also serves as a member of Union State Bank’s Board of Directors. He officiated men’s college basketball in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference for 20 years.

He received the Home National Bank Robert Brown Award in 2003 as the award’s first recipient and the Kansas Health Foundation Leader-Full Community Award in 2008 for his work on the school bond issue campaign.

John is married to Lee Ann Eaton Sturd. They have four children: Brylee, and husband, Andy Soule; Jancye, Michael and Karlye; plus Missy Patterson. They have one granddaughter, Audryee Jewell Soule.

John 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@cornerbank.com for nomination guidelines.

Make a nomination via PDF.