The “Distinguished Community Service Award” was first awarded in 1977 to Fred Murphy, a member of the Montgomery Ruritan Club, and Ron Myers, a member of the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce. That practice was followed for several years. However, since the Turkey Trot Festival became sponsored solely by the Montgomery Ruritan Club, more recent recipients have been club members judged to have made significant and prolonged contributions to the Montgomery Ruritan Club, the Turkey Trot Festival and to the Montgomery-Daviess County Community in general. 

1977. Fred Murphy & Ron Myers

1978. Joe Traylor & Bob Ward

1979. Walter Downey & Mike Herring

1980. Ralph Dages & Gerry Frette

1981. Charles Hart, Dave Cox & Jackie McGrath

1982. Max Eaton

1983. Chris O'Brian & Jack Craney

1984. Paul Miller & Chet Thompson

1985. Darrell Eaton & Ed Theroff

1986. Jim Traylor & Bob Showalter

1987. Don Craney & Jay Myers

1988. John Hart & Gary Graber

1989. Odius Hinkle & Bob Hart

1990. Charles Albert Kavanaugh

1991. Lois Wininger

1992. Fred Craney

1993. P. V. Steiner

1994. Tony Showalter

1995. Jack Graber & Jim O'Brian

1996. Alvis Graber &  Louis Kavanaugh, Jr.

1997. Leo Ryan & Leo Riney

1998. Bernie Duncheon & Jim Parsons

1999. George Nolan & Bob Elliott

2000. Terry O’Brian & Hank Wittmer

2001. Mike Healy & Glen Graber

2002. Tom Kane & Jim Truelove

2003. P.J. Craney & Glen Spaulding

2004. Grant Olds & Scott Nally

2005. Mike Anderson & John “Peanut” Knepp

2006. Deron Steiner & Herman O’Connor

2007 Mike Dages & Greg Traylor

2008. Larry Wilcher & Rick Dosher

2009 Tim Showalter & Vaughn Graber

2010 Lee Kavanaugh & Lowell Graber

2011 Pius Hart & John H. Wagler

2012 Dale Foster & Bob Miller