BG names top citizens

Updated 01-31-11:
Bob and Carla Blinn, who share a passion for helping others, were named Bowling Green’s Outstanding Male
and Female Citizens Saturday night by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.
Bob, a retired corporate executive, moved to Bowling Green, getting involved with several groups, sharing
his time and experience. He has a special interest in the Wood County Board of Development Disabilities,
promotes awareness of people with disabilities and plays Santa Claus at the Wood Lane holiday party for
students.
His nominators believe Blinn may hold some type of record for making ham and cheese sandwiches for a
community event.
"When I retired I had a lot of time on my hands. I married Carla and moved to Bowling Green. It has
been a great thing for me. I couldn’t be more pleased," he said.
Other interests are Kiwanis, Honor Flight, Boy Scouts, Wood County Hospital’s Wheeled Meals programs and
the BG School Foundation.
Both Blinns provide the sole financial support for the "Kids on the Block" program offered to
all BG elementary school students.
Carla is an organizational development professional, putting those skills to use to help the Woman’s Club
of BG, American Association of University Women and the Wood County Hospital Guild.
"I am absolutely humbled," she said. "I’m so delighted for Bob. I hardly know what to say.
I appreciate the kind words. I’ve learned along the way that the best way to be happy yourself is to
give back. I have received much more than I have given."
She volunteers with Alicia’s Voice, the Cocoon Shelter and Honor Flight and is a member of the speaker’s
bureau for the Wood County Board of Development Disabilities.
Each received a sketch of a section of downtown BG buildings by artist Becky Laabs.
The awards were presented by Dick Edwards, who received the Outstanding Male Citizen Award in 2008, and
Debra Manley, the 2010 Outstanding Female Citizen Award winner. Edwards and his wife, Nadine, were the
first couple to win the awards in the same year. The awards were first presented in 1957.
Former chamber executive director and 1975 Outstanding Female Citizen Joan Gordon provided "Chamber
Historic Highlights" to help the group celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Although Dr. David Shilling and other officers took their oaths at the Jan. 7 directors meeting, Saturday
night marked the symbolic change of office with 2010 president Doris Herringshaw giving Shilling a
supply of diet cola and the keys to the chamber office. The gavel had been left at the office.
Shilling recalled he had been in the chamber’s second Leadership BG class and noted how many members of
that class had come to the city to attend Bowling Green State University "and never left."
He said a key feature of the chamber and other organizations is that "people put the community needs
ahead of our own needs. I look at alarm at communities where this is not the case and you see what
follows. There are so many opportunities to give something to the community."