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Awards & Scholarships honor achievement and professionalism
In 2002, OGR instituted its most prestigious award, the Golden Light Award, to salute professional excellence exemplified by individual members who have inspired others by their commitment to service.
As an OGR member, you have opportunity each year to nominate a fellow member who has distinguished him- or herself in the funeral profession through OGR involvement, community service or volunteer activities that demonstrate "service measured not by gold, but by the Golden Rule."
Information and nomination instructions for the 2009 award will be available in the fall. For questions, contact the membership department, (800) 637-8030. |
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2008 Golden Light Award Winner
2008 Winner
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Charles Rader,
LeRoy Rader Funeral Home,
Longview, Texas |
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 OGR is privileged to bestow its 2008 Golden Light Award to Charles Rader, president of the LeRoy Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas, and the Charles Rader Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Henderson, Texas.
Rader was selected by a committee chaired by Kevin Opsahl and including Leonard Attrell, Gordon Flinn, Tom Hemmerle and Barbara Poole.
About Charles Rader
Rader's grandfather, LeRoy Rader, started the business in 1938. Charles Rader learned the business early in life from observing his father, Charley Rader.
Rader is active in the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club, having served as president. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and has volunteered actively for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center, March of Dimes and the Greater Longview United Way. He is also a member of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Rader directed the Bear the Burden program, whereby families contribute a stuffed bear in memory of their loved ones. The donated bear is then given to children who have lost a family member or caregiver. The Rader Funeral Home hosted a six-week Growing with Grief camp for children and teens. He has served on various OGR standing committees and his firm received honorable mention for its community service last year.
“This is a proud moment for me,” Rader said. “To be nominated and then selected by my fellow funeral directors is a huge honor. During my 27 years of service, I have always counted it a privilege to serve my community. Being a third-generation funeral director, I am delighted to accept this prestigious award, not only for myself but also on behalf of my father, Charley Rader. With that being said, allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart for presenting me with OGR’s 2008 Golden Light Award.”
The Longview location has been a member of OGR for 47 years; the Henderson location joined in 2006. |
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Past Golden Light Award Winners
2002 Award
Glenn P. Taylor
Glenn Funeral Home & Crematory,
Owensboro, Ky.
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2003 Award
Bonnie Helweg-Campbell
Helweg Funeral Service, Inc.,
Jenkintown, Pa.
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2004 Award
Billy K. Wages
Wages & Sons Funeral Home,
Stone Mountain, Ga. |
2005 Award
Thomas P. Lynch
Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors,
Milford, Mich. |
2006 Award
Michael G. Butler
Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center,
Hastings, Neb. |
2007 Award
Harold Lake
Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home,
Arkansas City, Kan |
Golden Rule Community Service Award |
2008 Winner  |
Arnett & Steele Funeral Home,
Pineville, Ky.
Photo: Mary and Jay Steele |
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Launched in 2008, the Golden Rule Community Service Award singles out a member firm for outstanding service to the community performed during the calendar year.
Arnette & Steele Funeral Home was chosen as the winner of the 2008 Golden Rule Community Service Award. The Communications Committee, which judged the competition, found the entry exceeded all the criteria, citing the firm's actions to raise $25,000 to replace a police dog killed in the line of duty an inspiration to others looking to give back in their own communities and an outstanding example of service performed “by the Golden Rule.”
Information and entry instructions for the 2009 community service award will be available this fall. For questions, contact the communications department, (800) 637-8030.
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The Exemplary Service Awards recognize those Golden Rule firms that have displayed outstanding professionalism and exemplary service.
The criteria for receiving an Exemplary Service Award are family comments gathered through OGR's Family Contact Program, a family evaluation of the service received from members. Comments that represent a family’s satisfaction and indicate that the funeral home performed in an exemplary manner are chosen as nominees for for this award.
Each year, a collection of comments are reviewed by the Regional Chairpersons, who choose the top three instances of member firms providing service above and beyond what is typically expected.
Those firms are honored as Gold, Silver and Bronze Exemplary Service Award winners.
The awards are conferred at a special awards ceremony at the Annual Conference.
For information about Family Contact, email
familycontact@ogr.org
or call (800) 637-8030.
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2008 Winners
 Gold Award: Farmer & Son Funeral Home, Geneva, Neb. |
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 Silver Award: Connell Funeral Home, Bethlehem, Pa. |
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| Bronze Award;
Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Ind. |
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 OGR demonstrates its support of the next generation of funeral home employees and owners by offering scholarships to students nearing completion of their mortuary science degree and about to enter the funeral profession.
The Awards of Excellence Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students based on strong academic performance, funeral service experience and the strength of their essay, that exemplifies a commitment to serving grieving families with compassion, fairness and dignity. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program at an accredited mortuary science school or college; be scheduled to graduate after Jan. 31; have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. This fund is supported by member contributions.
The Koven L. Brown Scholarship, funded by OGR member Koven L. Brown, CFSP, awards a $1,000 prize. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited mortuary school degree program; be scheduled to graduate after May 31; have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; demonstrate financial need; and submit a short essay along with the application.
The application process begins in late-summer, with applications due in mid-October. Selections are made the first quarter of the following year and are announced by the end of March.
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2008 Scholarship Winners
- Gold Award of Excellence: Margaret Hicks, Community College of Baltimore County; $2,500 scholarship
- Silver Award of Excellence: Dana Nowak, Wayne State University; $1,500 scholarship
- Bronze Award of Excellence: Jed Rhoades, Worsham College of Mortuary Science; $500 scholarship
- K.L. Brown Scholarship winner: Camela Walker, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; $1,000 scholarship
For information about the 2009 program, contact education@ogr.org.
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Awards of Excellence Scholarship Fund
Contributions to the Awards of Excellence Scholarship Fund may be made in someone's memory or in honor of a special event. Contributions are acknowledged in The Independent as they are received.
 To send a donation, download a contribution form or contact the education department,
(800) 637-8030.
Please check with your tax advisor to determine if the donation is deductible as a business expense.
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