AWARDS HISTORY AND RECIPIENTS

Lawrence "Larry" Lute Memorial Award

In 2008, Lawrence (Larry) Lute, bailiff in the Scioto County Common Pleas Court & Region G Director, was awarded an Outstanding Service Award. Larry had been battling cancer for some time but continued to work under adverse conditions just so fellow employees would not have to pick up his workload. He worked in pain but still worked, only missing a few days while in the hospital for treatments. He encouraged the entire board to the point that the Outstanding Service Award was renamed in his honor.

Court Officer of the Year Award

The Court Officer of the Year Award is used to recognize a member of the Court who goes above and beyond their sworn duties to perform in an outstanding way. This may include demonstrating their Technical Knowledge and Ability, as well as displaying a Positive Mental Attitude in various situations.

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton Award

Established in 2004 in recognition of Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton's leadership and inspiration in developing a solid foundation for an effective and efficient court security system in Ohio courts and for her selfless commitment of time and energy to achieve this purpose.

Please SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS for all three Awards for calendar year before October 1, 2025. Please take a moment to think of those who work around you every day and provide the type of service we strive to deliver to constituents of the Court. The criteria for the award are provided in the attachment below.

Nominations should be submitted to our website at ohiobailiffs@gmail.com no later than October 1, 2025. We ask that you please keep your nomination confidential from the nominee.

The 2025 Awards will be presented at presented at the Ohio Bailiffs and Court Officers Association 2024 Fall Conference Awards Dinner. More details of the ceremony will be provided later.

Please give thoughtful consideration to making a nomination.

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton Award
Established in 2004 in recognition of Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton's leadership and inspiration in developing a solid foundation for an effective and efficient court security system in Ohio courts and for her selfless commitment of time and energy to achieve this purpose.

2018   Thomas Mulgrew, Cleveland Municipal Court
2017
2016 William (Bill) Saus, Medina Municipal Court
2015     Horst Wudi, Fulton County Common Pleas Court
2014     J. Kristopher Steele, Supreme Court of Ohio
2013     Margaret Allen
2012     Tom Chidester
2011     Jim Burkhardt
2010     Sgt. Toby J. Smith Ohio State Highway Patrol
2009     William Powell, Jr., Licking County Court
2008     Roger T. Landis, Executive Director, Ohio Bailiffs & Court
Officers Association
2007     Samuel Cicchino, Ohio Supreme Court
2006     Howard E. Shearer
2005     Ohio State Highway Patrol
2004     Sheriff Neil P. Hassinger, Medina County

Honorary Life Member

2018 Horst Wudi, Fulton County Common Pleas Court

Honorary Member

2019 Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, Franklin County
U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott
U.S. Marshal Peter E. Tobin

Lawrence "Larry" Lute Memorial Award
In 2008, Lawrence (Larry) Lute, bailiff in the Scioto County Common Pleas Court & Region G Director, was awarded an Outstanding Service Award. Larry had been battling cancer for some time but continued to work under adverse conditions just so fellow employees would not have to pick up his workload. He worked in pain but still worked, only missing a few days while in the hospital for treatments. He encouraged the entire board to the point that the Outstanding Service Award was renamed in his honor.

2011 Betty Barringer, Ohio Supreme Court Security Services
2009 Tom Brown, Ohio Supreme Court

Court Officer of the Year

2017   Jonathan D. Farnsworth
2016   Darren Litz, Juvenile Division, Scioto County Common
Pleas Court
2011   Jack R Ward, Franklin County Probate Court
2010 Roseanne Johnson, Elyria Municipal Court
2008   William Powell, Jr., Licking County Courts
2007 Gregory A. Sims, Cleveland Municipal Court
2006 Melinda Klenk, Hamilton County Juvenile Court
2005 Debbie Nelson, Perry County Court of Common Pleas
2004 Jenny Andrews, Brown County Municipal Court
2003 LeRoy Felver, Celina Municipal Court
2002 Michael B. McElroy, Holmes County Common Pleas
2001 Carl Meding, Medina Municipal Court
2000 Casey Linebrink, Defiance Municipal Court

Special Recognitions

2019 DUSM Joe Bridges
Deputy Al Cook (ret.)
Major Kelly Keys
Senior Inspector Joel Kimmet
David Lashley
Senior Inspector Anthony Manson
Major David Oyer
Judge Mark Serrott
Stacey Wickham, BSN, RN, CCRN
Assistant Chief Sean Wolcoff
2008 Lawrence Lute (Outstanding Service)
2005 Joy Preuss Ohio Judicial College
2005 Sergeant Toby Smith, OSHP (Outstanding Instructor)