Dils honored as Citizen of the Year at OVU's Evening of Honor

By WAYNE TOWNER, Staff Writer
Parkersburg News & Sentinel

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg resident and long-time businessman Edwin L.D. “Ed” Dils was honored Saturday as the 2007 Mid-Ohio Valley Citizen of the Year.

Dils was presented with the honor Saturday evening during a banquet at the Parkersburg Art Center in downtown Parkersburg. Ohio Valley University is one of the sponsors of the event and college president James A. Johnson served as master of ceremonies.

“It’s an honor that was not expected but I’m very grateful for their concern and for the honor that they are giving me,” Dils said Saturday.

“Ohio Valley University is a growth school for our community, it’s a college that has much impact on our community and we’re very grateful for their enterprise and their concerns about the growth of our community,” he said.

The recognition is a collaborative project of OVU and the cities of Parkersburg, Vienna and Williamstown. Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell, Vienna Mayor David Nohe and Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford selected a committee of area business leaders earlier this year to gather a list of local citizens deserving of recognition.

Committee members deliberated for several months before reaching a decision. Each committee member nominated individuals within the region who lead or have led businesses and civic organizations and in general have contributed to the betterment of the region and its residents.

“We very honored to be part of it, to be one of the partners hosting this as we celebrate the ideas of citizenship and honor in our county,” Johnson said. “Something the university is striving to do is to become more involved in the community, more involved in the region.”

Dils’ contribution to the region spans more than 50 years. A native of Parkersburg, he worked for his family’s business — Dils Brothers & Co. Department Store — holding several positions including president.

He has been influential in the growth of numerous local organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, YMCA, Parkersburg Rotary Club, Wood County Development Authority and Area Roundtable. He also played a key role in creating the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.

Dils was honored with the West Virginia Governor’s award in 2000 and the order of the 35th Star.

During Saturday’s program, a $1,000 Mid-Ohio Valley Citizen of the Year Scholarship was presented to OVU freshman Aaron Palmer for the 2008-09 school year. Davis said the scholarship was created last year as part of the Citizen of the Year program.

Marty Davis, OVU marketing director, said the recognition dinner began in 2005 as an inaugural dinner for Johnson, who had just taken the position of college president at OVU.

It was decided to make the dinner an annual event and an opportunity to recognize someone in the community for their services to the community.

Last year’s Citizen of the Year was local entrepreneur Pat Minnite.

Contact Wayne Towner at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com