Wooster Glass Company President Kathy Long and Vice President Pat Neyhart were on hand to receive the Board of Directors Award at the 119th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce Jan. 24, 2019, at the Greystone Event Center.
Dan Starcher of The Daily Record wrote about the company receiving the award (you can read the full article here). This an excerpt:
WOOSTER — Beyond working to be the best glass company around, the Wooster Glass Co. was founded on two principles: commitment to serving and giving back to the community.
Ralph Jones started the company in 1947 and those principles continue today through the leadership of President Kathy Long, Jones’ daughter, and Vice President Pat Neyhart; and it is what the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce will recognize at its annual meeting Jan. 24 at the Greystone Event Center.
Long and Neyhart will accept the Board of Directors Award on behalf of the company. The award is given each year to a person or company who has made significant contributions to the Chamber and community over the years, Chamber President Justin Starlin said.
The company has long been an active partner with the Chamber and a sponsor of many of its events and programs. Jones served on the board of directors, eventually becoming chairman. Neyhart followed the same path, as did Long’s husband. Both Long and Neyhart have a history of working with and supporting the Chamber. “I was surprised Wooster Glass had never received the award,” Starlin said.
And that is something that will be rectified this year.
The Chamber produced a video of the event. In it, Neyhart said Wooster Glass and its workers never do anything for the Chamber or the community in order to receive awards. Rather, they do it because it is the right thing to do. Here is the video:
This is the fourth time Wooster Glass Company has been connected to a Chamber award.
- 2002: Wooster Glass, Business of the Year
- 2005: Ralph Jones, Wall of Fame
- 2018: Kathy Long and Greg Long, Wall of Fame
- 2019: Wooster Glass, Board of Directors Award
When Jones came to town, he became part of the community. He became involved in the Chamber and other community organizations. The lessons he taught his daughter, Kathy Long, and Neyhart have continued. Echoing the words of her father, Long said if the community has been good to you, then you need to give back to the community.
The business began on the south end of town, and it has not only stayed in the neighborhood, but it built a fabrication shop there, too. Neyhart said the company’s roots are “South of Bowman,” and he cannot see that changing any time soon.
Here is a video from when Kathy and Greg Long were named to the Wall of Fame: