The winner of the 66th annual Good Friend and Neighbor Award will soon be known.
Economy Lions Club will give the award during the Rural Urban Dinner on Thursday, July 16, at Willie & Red’s, 40 E. Main, Hagerstown.
Reservations are requested by calling the restaurant at 765-489-4131. Guests will pay $17.95 for their meal, gratuity and soft drink upon arrival at 6 p.m. Socializing occurs before the 6:30 p.m. program.
The gathering is intended to encourage good relationships between town and rural Wayne County residents. Anyone is invited to attend and watch someone be surprised for their efforts in improving the quality of life in northern Wayne County.
Last year’s winner, Randy Newman, will announce this year’s honoree.
Starting in the mid-1950s, Hagerstown Businessmen’s Club, which became Rotary Club, invited farmers to a dinner to connect with the rural community. Farmers then began reciprocating with a dinner for Rotarians.
In 1959, two Rotarians and a farmer received anonymous letters asking them to pick a farmer who portrayed a good friend and neighbor, and the winner would receive a prepaid trophy to be picked up in Rushville. They received letters for two more years with the same trophy arrangements.
After those letters stopped coming, local volunteers began planning the annual recognition program.
A version of this article will appear in the July 15 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
