Ross receives Community Cornerstone Award

CornerBank has announced Stephen Ross is the Community Cornerstone Award recipient for February. In recognition of his service, CornerBank will contribute $100 to the non-profit organization of Stephen's choice. He has selected the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. A reception honoring Stephen's service will be at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25, in the CornerBank community room, 125 N. Summit. The public is invited to attend the reception.

Stephen is the Ark City chapter chairman for the American Red Cross. He also serves on the division advisory council as well as the national nominating committee for the American Red Cross. He has served on the Presbyterian Manor Advisory Council and as chairman of the Dick Metz Golf Tournament, a fundraiser for the Good Samaritan Fund at the Manor. He is a past member of the Denton Art Center board of directors and has served on the Burford campaign committee since 2007.

Stephen has been a member of the Ark City Country Club board of directors and has served on the board for Ark City Industries for about 30 years. He is a member of the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce, where he has served as vice president, treasurer and on the board. He was Arkalalah general chairman in 1968 and later was selected as Arkalalah Grand Marshal. He has been a member of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce, where he was a director and treasurer and received the Key Man Award, Outstanding Young Man Award and the Distinguished Service Award in 1974.

Stephen has been a member of Rotary International since 1966. He has served on the board, as president and as chairman of the Rotary Foundation. He received the Rotary Paul Harris Award. He also is a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he has served as deacon, elder, trustee and youth sponsor.

Stephen was born in Ark City, one of three children (Janet and David are siblings) of Kenneth and Gail Ross. He married his wife, Melinda, in 1964. They have four children: Mary, John, Julie and Sarah; and six grandchildren.

He graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1959 and the University of Kansas in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He has been an insurance agent and real estate broker for 45 years, first with Ross and Bly from 1964 to 1968 and then, after a merger, United Agency. He has been president of United Agency since 1975. He has served in numerous capacities for the Arkansas City Insurance Board, Independent Insurance Agents of Kansas and for many insurance company advisory councils. He served on the Kansas Insurance Department Task Force on workers compensation reform in 1990.

Stephen was selected for the award by the Community Cornerstone Award selection committee, which includes Arleta Rice, Judy Reedy, Karl Faidley, Dolly Bonfy, 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.