Nominate someone for Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award

The Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission has extended its deadline for nominations for the sixth annual Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award to Saturday, June 15.

The award nomination forms are available on the Arlington Heights website: www.vah.com, or by calling (847) 253-5532. Although nominations are accepted at any time, the deadline for submission for 2013 consideration is June 15.

Future nominees should exhibit a history of excellent service to the senior community, have developed or conducted programs that enhance the quality of life for senior citizens, have embraced or nurtured activities that affect, in a positive way, the lives of the senior citizens population. They must serve as an example by continuing their efforts toward these goals with a zest for the joy of living. Candidates must reside, work or volunteer in Arlington Heights.

Prior recipients of the Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award include: Jack Hanahan, 2012; Joe Cesario, 2011; Frank De Rosa, 2010; and Shirley Garrison, 2009 as well as Jack Schimpf, 2008, honored posthumously.

Dr. Kenneth Hood was born on a farm in Western Pennsylvania and attended a one-room school house. He graduated from New Castle High School and received a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from Penn State. He received a Ph.D. from Cornell University and worked for the American Farm Bureau as an economist and marketing specialist and was a published author. Hood’s career included extensive writing, the lecture circuit and teaching.

Hood’s senior citizen advocacy included delivering meals on wheels for the Senior Center and serving as a member of the Park Place Advisory Council, and later as president. He was one of the founding members of Arlington Heights Senior Center, Inc., and served as its president. For these and other activities, he received the Sid Granet Award which was bestowed upon him at the Governor’s Conference on Aging.

Hood served on the Senior Citizens Commission for more than 20 years, and became its chairman. He wrote a book about his beloved wife, Lois and celebrated his 100th birthday. Twice again, he found himself in the spotlight, as a centenarian and as a powerful advocate for the dignity of Alzheimer’s patients when the article “For the Love of Lois” appeared.

Hood was active for decades in the Arlington Heights Noon Rotary Club and served as the secretary for several terms. He accomplished all he had set out to do, and during the last 13 months of his life, he “flipped the switch” to light the decorations at North Park to kick off the 2006 holiday season. At his 100th birthday party, Hood challenged those attending to pick up his torch of service to Arlington Heights Senior Citizens. It is in this spirit that the Dr. Kenneth Hood Award was created in 2008.

The Senior Citizens Commission will announce the winner on July 31, Dr. Hood’s birthday.