Schneider receives Community Cornerstone Award

Richard Schneider is CornerBank’s Community Cornerstone Award recipient in Arkansas City for January. In recognition of his service, CornerBank will contribute $100 to the non-profit organization of his choice. He has selected the Early Bird Lions Club eyeglass/sight project to receive the contribution. A reception honoring Schneider’s service will be at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, in the CornerBank community room, 125 N. Summit. The public is invited to attend the reception.

Schneider and his family moved to Arkansas City in 1972 and were immediately immersed in the local recreation program. Schneider was an active baseball coach and eventually served as president of the Arkansas City Baseball Association. Later he was named president of the Ark City Babe Ruth Baseball League, coached teams in that league and became the Assistant District Commissioner for the area Babe Ruth organization. In that role, he assisted with tournaments at the district level in Ark City, Winfield and Wellington. He followed Kenneth Gilmore as the District Commissioner. During his time as Commissioner, he organized a 13-year-old Babe Ruth league to help the boys gain more experience.

He was a volunteer for the Pop Warner football program, AC Takedown Club and helped organize the Girls Softball Association, including building a new softball park in Sleeth Addition. He was an active supporter of the High School Bulldogs and was a band booster and field trip sponsor.

During the late 1970s, Schneider was a precinct committeeman for his township and served on the Cowley County Republican Central Committee. From 1980 to 1988, he was County Chairman of the GOP. During that time, he coordinated campaigns for local candidates for the state legislature and state senate.

Schneider was a charter member of the Ark City Optimist Club and served as its president. He is an active member of the Early Bird Lions Club and has served as its president and secretary. He is a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, the highest award achieved in the Lions.

Schneider is a member of the local VFW, American Legion, the Sons of the American Revolution and the Knights of Columbus. As member of K of C, he has held numerous offices and chaired many programs and was named Knight of the Year. Other volunteer activities include the All Nations Native American Center, World Festival and the Ark City Twilighters signing group, which visited nursing homes and other senior citizen housing areas. He enjoys genealogy and published a hard cover book of his maternal family.

After graduation from high school, Dick joined the Air Force and during that time he met his future wife, Mary Ann, at a USO dance in Detroit. The couple got married in April 1958 and are looking forward to their 55th wedding anniversary this year. They have six children: Laura Hawkins, Tama Barfield, Amy Lawson, Mark Schneider, Ann Bono and David Schneider. Schneider worked at Greif Brothers Corporation for more than 37 years, retiring in 2001. Since his retirement, Schneider says he has become a “professional volunteer.”

Schneider and his family belong to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he has been a member of the choir, lector extraordinary minister, greeter and money counter for the parish.

Schneider was selected for the award by the Community Cornerstone Award selection committee, which includes Bob Foster, Arleta Rice, Judy Reedy, 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.