BOTKINS — A community leader who has dedicated his life to the betterment of Shelby County received the highest award presented by the Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Thursday night, during its annual awards banquet.
Tom Middleton, of Sidney, was named the 2017 Zenith Award winner. His introduction and award presentation were made by Ken Schlater.
“I knew as soon as he (Ken Schlater) stood up,” said Middleton, of when he knew he was the recipient of the Zenith Award. “He’s my best friend. I was told something different to get me here. I was very surprised.”
In his presentation to the audience, Schlater spoke in glowing terms about his best friend.
“This man has served as president of both the Rotary and the Kiwanis clubs. He was the president of the United Way and the chairman of the United Way campaign,” said Schlater.
Middleton has served on the city of Sidney Comprehensive Plan and the Sidney Fire Department Comprehensive Plan committees. He has worked on many Sidney School tax levy campaigns and served as president of the Holy Angels School Board.
He serves Holy Angels Church as a member of the Holy Angels Parish Council and is a 20-year member of the Parish Finance Committee.
“He has also served our hospital with distinction,” said Schlater. “He was a 10-year-member of the hosptial’s board of trustees and was president of the board. He currently serves as secretary treasurer of the Wilson Health Foundation Board.”
Middleton was president and a board member of the Western Regional Technology System, a board member of Sidney-Shelby Economic Partnership, formerly the WODC, and a board member of the Ohio Presbyterian Homes.
“He has had a profound impact on the youth of our community,” said Schlater. “Early in his career, he was a teacher and baseball coach at Anna High School, when his team won the 1972 state baseball championship. He coached Little League baseball for 15 years, coached basketball in the YMCA Developmental League and was an assistant basektball coach at Lehman Catholic for 10 years.”
In his nomination letter, retired Sidney Fire Chief Stan Crosley said, “His time and dedication to others is a testament to his love of our community and that together we can make it a better place to work, play and live.”
Another nomination letter was from John Garmhausen, who stated, “The Zenith Award was created to honor Shelby County community leaders whose lifetime of community seervice has had a profound impact on the quality of life in Shelby County. There is no question in my mind that Tom Middleton has displayed commitments sufficient to distinguish him as our next Zenith Award recipient.”
Middleton is the president and owner of Emerson Wagner Realty. He was a board member of Shelby County Realtors and the Midwest Ohio Association of Realtors.
“In my opinion, this man’s greatest strength is in the numbr of things he has done quietly, behind the scene, for the citizens of Shelby County,” said Schlater.
Those accomplishments include:
• Helping numerous people in various ways become first-time homeowners.
• Assisting various organizations with fundraising development.
• “Selling” Sidney and Shelby County to prospective corporations, businesses and employees of various companies.
“His quiet benevolence is second to none,” said Schlater.
On hand for the presentation were Middleton’s family: his son, Clay, and Clay’s wife, Cynthia, and their children, Kyra and Nick; daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Kevin, and their children, Isabelle, Madeline, Eloise and Katherine; and son, Tom, and Tom’s wife, Katie, and their children, Emily, Thomas and Kylie.
“This is a great family who will surely miss their mother and wife, Nancy, who left us far too soon,” said Schlater. “The saying, ‘Behind every good man is a great woman,’ really applies here.”
After going onstage, Middleton said, “I’m the only one here without a prepared speech. Some people just lied to me … that whole table (of people).
“I thank you for the award. You never receive an award without family support. I thank my kids for the nights I wasn’t there for them. My wife did a hell of a job raising my kids. You never do this by yourself,” he said in commending the people who work behind the scenes to get a job or mission completed.
His son, Clay, and his family, who live in Maryland, were unable to attend the ceremony. His son, Tom, expressed the entire family’s appreciation for their dad’s award.
“He’s an amazing father,” said Tom. “He’s been there for us always. It’s nice to see him recognized by the community.”
He said Schlater and Garmhausen had kept the family in the loop after they had nominated Middleton for the award.
“They were the brains behind the nomination,” said Middleton’s son.
