MOUNT VERNON — Jerry Scott has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Food For The Hungry Stroud Award for Community Service.
The Stroud Award honors the memory of a long-time Knox County resident and community leader. Bill Stroud, who died in 2011 at the age of 90, was a retired president and chairman of First-Knox National Bank.
In addition to serving as a Kenyon College trustee and board chairman, Bill served on the boards of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, the Mount Vernon/Knox County Community Trust, 4-H, the Knox County Symphony, and the Knox County Chamber of Commerce.
He was also elected to the Federal Reserve Board of Cleveland.
Jerry Scott’s dedication to public safety, conservation, and civic leadership spans nearly six decades. Born in Oregon, Ohio, and a 1960 graduate of Oregon Clay High School, Jerry began his career of service in 1965 when he joined the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Over his distinguished career as a commercial fishing enforcement investigator, he left a permanent mark on state conservation by being the first administrator for Ohio’s “Turn In a Poacher” (TIP) program in 1982.
Though he retired from the Division of Wildlife in 1995, he continues to lend his expertise on its board. Parallel to his environmental work, Jerry dedicated 47 years of service to the Sheriff’s Auxiliary beginning in 1968.
Jerry’s commitment to his neighbors extends into every corner of his life. A long-time influence for Gideons International, Kiwanis, and the Boy Scouts, he has also served on the board of The Salvation Army for over 40 years and has been a faithful member of Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene for 25 years.
Driven by a deep heart for ministry, Jerry joined the Mount Vernon Association of Police Chaplains in 2018. As a law enforcement chaplain, he offers steady prayer, emotional support, and comfort to first responders and grieving families during their hardest moments.
An accomplished licensed auctioneer and real estate professional until his retirement from auctioneering in 2024, Jerry consistently leveraged his talents to uplift charitable causes.
He has been a pivotal voice for Food For The Hungry of Knox County since its founding in 1982, bringing energy to signature events like the 1990s Gingerbread Auctions, which evolved into the Snowflake Gala “Fund-a-Cause.”
Jerry also brought warmth and community spirit as the Master of Ceremonies for the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival for 26 years—where he cherished meeting artists and connecting with residents.
Jerry’s decades of impactful service have been widely recognized as he received the Zelkowitz Memorial Award in 1999, the Snowflake Gala Founders Award in 2023, the City of Mount Vernon Community Service Recognition Award in 2026, and now the 2026 Stroud Award for Community Service.
It is clear that he is well deserving of an award that honors the legacy of Bill Stroud.
“Jerry exemplifies service and ministry. His leadership to the community, providing a ministry of presence, has left and continues to leave a hopeful and comforting impression for many people. Through our community involvement together, Jerry has taught me a great deal about service to others not because of what he says but because of what he does. Jerry Scott, in my opinion, has a true servant’s heart and is most deserving of the Stroud Award.” — Mayor Matt Starr, City of Mount Vernon
Reflecting on his journey, Jerry credits his work to the community he loves and the steady support of his wife of 61 years, Mary (affectionately known to Jerry as “Mary Queen of Scots”):
“I can tell you it is easy to be a volunteer in Mount Vernon and Knox County. We happen to live in the greatest county in Ohio, bar none. Mary and I have been so pleased to be here.” — Jerry Scott
The Stroud Award will be presented to Scott at the 2026 Snowflake Gala to support the Food For The Hungry of Knox County annual fundraising drive. The Gala will be held on Friday, December 11, at 6 p.m. in the Lowry Athletic Center in Gambier, Ohio.
The evening will include an opening reception, a gourmet dinner prepared by AVI Dining Services, a live fund-a-cause auction supporting families in Knox County, and dancing to joyful music by the Knox Community Jazztet.
Every ticket and bid helps Knox County neighbors in need. Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 to sponsor a table of eight. All are welcome to attend! Tickets and more information are available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-snowflake-gala .
To keep up to date on Food For The Hungry news, follow FFTH on Facebook at @FoodForTheHungryKnoxCounty and on Instagram at @ffthcares. More information on FFTH can also be found at www.FoodForTheHungryCares.org.