DELPHOS — “We’re only scratching the surface.”
That is how Tom Densel summed up what Ronnie Grothous means to the Delphos community.
That is also why he and his wife, Karen, were the forces behind nominating Grothous for a 2008 Jefferson Award for volunteer service to the community.
Grothous will join seven individuals April 9 at the banquet to be held at the Civic Center.
As usual for Grothous, the award was a complete shock.
“I was surprised to find out I’d been nominated. I remember Bob Ulm called me because he needed a ride to Lima,” he recalled. “We stopped at the Red Cross and there were others there. The nominations were brought up at this meeting.
“When I received a letter from the judges telling me I had won an award, I was shocked.”
Grothous will receive a bronze medallion, $350 for his favorite charity and recognition at that banquet.
“Ronnie has been a grandfather figure to my son, Ryan, for many years; he’s been that to many kids. We’ve gotten to know him around the park and by what he does for the schools and community,” Tom Densel explained. “We talked to others and they suggested he should be honored for what he does. Karen and I decided to take the bull by the horns this year, get the paperwork done and do the research to see about a Jefferson Award.
“When we started making the phone calls, it seemed everyone told us he did something we didn’t know about. That’s why I think with Ronnie, we have only scratched the surface.”
Grothous has made his name on the work he has done with the Stadium Club and the parks; it comes from a very simple source.
“My volunteerism comes from my mom and dad, George and Bertha Grothous. They taught us it was always better to give than receive; Dad told us it’s better to make things better than to complain,” he recalled. “When Dad was on council, he was all about making things better at the parks. The Stadium Club was his idea. The city never seems to have the money to put into the parks and there must be bigger priorities. The Club was a way for people to donate money, get a break on their taxes and also help the parks.
“That’s why I do what I do; I want to give our kids good places to play. I love to watch them; they are my entertainment. I look at it this way, too; if they are out playing sports, they aren’t going to be sitting around doing nothing or causing devilment. That’s not anything bad — it’s what we did as kids — but I’d rather have them playing sports.
“I have been to other places and I see what’s happening. We have fantastic kids in this town and it’s a pleasure to help them any way I can.”
Grothous, in his retirement, has stepped up his accessibility. He is also a man who knows a thing or two about repair work, constantly remodeling his own abode in his spare time.
It is not just with the parks that Grothous lends a hand. His own battle with cancer makes him a steady volunteer for those touched by that disease.
“I haven’t necessarily done a lot of work in the local Relay for Life — I do participate — but through it, I found people that had transportation needs, to get to and from appointments. I know what it’s like to fight it — I’ve been doing it for 10 years,” Grothous said. “I visit people in hospitals: some I know personally, some I’ve been referred to. If I can give them the motivation to fight — they might think ‘he got through it; I can, too’ — then it’s worth it. It’s a scary disease and I want to do what I can to help organizations that are helping victims and to find a cure.”
Still, Grothous deflects praise.
“There are many out there more deserving than I am. There are a lot of people out there helping the schools and the community,” Grothous added. “I couldn’t do this alone; no one can. I’ve never done what I do for awards and if anything, I dedicate this award to all the other volunteers who don’t get the notice and recognition.”