Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award

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Nomination Form

The Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award was established in 1985 in memory of Rhea Eckel Clark, one of the founders of the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board.

This award is dedicated to the spirit and memory of the late Rhea Eckel Clark, one of the founders of the CNY RPDB. Mrs. Clark distinguished herself throughout her career by working to help improve the quality of life in Central New York by addressing issues of regional significance such as education, health care, community revitalization, environmental protection, and social justice.

Mrs. Clark spent three terms as chairperson of the CNY RPDB from 1967-1969. During this period she helped to direct the agency through its formative stages and initiated work on a range of comprehensive planning issues confronting the Central New York community.

In addition to her work with the CNY RPDB, Mrs. Clark was president of Cazenovia College from April 1957 to March 1971. She was also named director of the American Management Association for a three-year period beginning in 1968. Upon retiring from her presidency of Cazenovia College, Mrs. Clark headed Governor Rockefeller's State Commission of the Aging.

Before coming to Cazenovia College, Mrs. Clark spent eight years with the New York University School of Education as assistant to the dean and consultant for community education and development. Previously, Mrs. Clark was executive secretary for New York State Citizens Council, Inc., and in 1949, she served in Germany as a visiting consultant to the U.S. Army of Occupation Program. During her lifetime, Mrs. Clark received a number of honors including the 14th Colgate Civics Awards presented to area men and women "who have exemplified, by their own generous service, the principle of democracy in action." Mrs. Rhea Eckel was married to Dr. Wesley C. Clark. Dr. Wesley Clark was dean of the Syracuse University School of Journalism for more than 20 years.

Criteria

The recipient of this award must:

• Provide strong regional leadership;
• Help implement programs that have improved the quality of life in CNY; and
• Support efforts that foster intergovernmental cooperation and civic participation.

Louis Pettinelli, CNY RPDB's 2010 REC Award Recipient

Louis Pettinelli (left) receives the CNY RPDB's Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award from Board Chairwoman Kathleen Rapp at the Board's 2010 Annual Meeting

Louis Pettinelli was named the recipient of the 25th annual Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award at the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board’s annual meeting that was held on December 15, 2010.

Mr. Pettinelli was born in Rome, New York and is a long time resident of the Brewerton community in Onondaga County. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education from SUNY Cortland. Mr. Pettinelli began his professional career in Central New York in the Central Square School District where he taught, coached, and later directed health and physical education. Following a lengthy tenure at Central Square, he joined the Oswego County BOCES where he rose to the position of deputy superintendent and executive director of human resources before retiring in 2003.

In addition to his full-time work, Mr. Pettinelli has spent the past forty years in several community service and volunteer positions. Since 1978 he has served on the board of directors of Operation Oswego County, the county’s designated economic development organization. He has also served on the board of directors of Oswego County’s Private Industry Council and Workforce Development Board. On a regional level, former governor Mario Cuomo appointed Mr. Pettinelli to the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council. He also has  served on the board of directors of the CNY RPDB and on the board and as president of the COMCO Development Corporation, a regional small business lending organization. Throughout these many years of community service, Mr. Pettinelli served as a representative for the NYS Wrestling Officials on the NYS Public High School Official Coordinating Federation.

Mr. Pettinelli has been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, including the National Federation of State High School Associations Distinguished Service Award and from Operation Oswego County, the Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award. He has also been inducted into the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and the Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame, and has been recognized with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum’s Lifetime Service to Wrestling award.

Past Recipients