White honored with Chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award

As he took the stage Friday night to receive the Knox County Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award, CEO Bruce White took a moment to check out the names of former recipients.

That’s when the enormity of the award really sank in for the president and CEO of Knox Community Hospital.

“You see the names of the people, and I look at those names and I think, ‘wow.’ I’ve had the opportunity to know almost all of them. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a lot of them. And I’ve had the honor of actually being able to call many of them friends,” said an emotional White. “As I look out at the room, I see a lot of friends. I see a lot of people who have supported me, tolerated me, put up with me, and I truly, truly appreciate it.”

Dr. John Berry, president of Central Ohio Technical College, presented the award to White. Berry said the award is presented to a member of the community known for making significant contributions to Knox County and has demonstrated a long-term commitment that has been a positive impact on the lives of the residents.

Berry read from a letter written by White, describing the path that brought him to Knox County. He grew up in Mineral Ridge in northeast Ohio, working in a van shop while in high school. He went to Kent State and then Youngstown State before getting a job with Marathon Oil Company and moving to Findlay. He spent time with them in Louisiana and Texas before returning to Ohio and working at Cooper Energy Services in Mount Vernon.

White joined KCH in 1996 and was named CEO in 2006. He has served as assistant administrator, vice president of support and ancillary services, and director of information services. He has served on the boards for the Ohio Hospital Association, Mental Health and Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties, Community Health Center of Knox County, the Chamber of Commerce, Kenyon College, Kiwanis Club, United Way, Salvation Army, YMCA and the advisory council for the Mount Vernon Developmental Center. He also taught computer classes at COTC.

“My message tonight is I’ve been fortunate enough to find the things that I love. I’ve been able to make them my life’s work. And, I hope, I get to continue to do that for a while. Thank you everyone,” White said.

There were several other awards handed out during the event:

•Anissa Treen was named Chamber Ambassador of the Year.

•The Environmental Sustainability Award went to the Brown Family Environmental Center.

•The Salvation Army Learning Lighthouse was named the recipient of the Heart Award.

•The Quality of Life Award went to the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.

•Julie Lucas, a Chamber Ambassador, was named the Volunteer of the Year.

•The Investor in the Future Award went to the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

•Lacey Filkins of Experience Mount Vernon received the Women in Business Leadership Award.

•Paragraphs Bookstore received the Small Business of the Year Award.

•The Business of the Year Award went to The Ohio Eastern Star Home.

•Vernon View Golf Course received the Entrepreneur Spirit Award.

•Josh Lester of the Mount Vernon Fire Department won the Leadership Knox Alumni Award.