CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Rotary Club named its “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” earlier this week and Flo Lutz of Clearfield received the award.
Committee Rotarians Tom Lenker, Eugene Williams and Ron Strattan were on hand at the Arrowhead Restaurant in Clearfield to welcome Lutz. Lutz was accompanied by her more than 20 family members from Smethport, Chambersburg and friends from various clubs and organizations in the area as well as Rotarians and guests.
“Mrs. Lutz has a bio highlighting just a few of the myriad of reasons she was chosen to receive this award,” Lenker explained. “Who is Flo? She is first and foremost a wife of 41 years to Roy Lutz, a mother to four children and eight grandchildren. She is a member of the Clearfield Woman’s Club, serving as president twice and Clearfield County president from 2002-04.”
However, he said that Lutz is most well-known for her incredible volunteer service to the American Red Cross’ Blood Services Program. She started her service in 2000 and continues to volunteer today.
“As the Blood Services chair, Flo organizes blood drives in the Clearfield, Curwensville, Mahaffey, Bradford Township and the Frenchville/Karthaus areas,” Lenker said.
He added, “That means nearly 1,200 blood drives and everything that goes along with holding those from start to finish and beyond.
“It means scheduling, marketing, working with sponsors, saying thank you and on and on over the last 14 years. She worked as the greeter at 95 percent of those blood mobiles and for no less than seven hours each time.”
She helped with drives, including community-based, honorary or memorial, school-based, “pint size” for grade schools, as well as others for parents to donate, business-based and a scholarship drive with high school students.
Lutz has also received the prestigious Edgar M. Cheely Award for outstanding volunteer service, innovation and tireless efforts to achieve success in blood services. She was given that distinction in May of 2007 for her work in the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, American Red Cross Blood Service Greater Alleghenies Region.
“This is a dignified, enduring award, reflecting the high quality and standards of involvement and achievement characterized by Mr. Cheely to recognize a long-time leadership volunteer,” according to the Lutz biography.
It was also noted that only one other Clearfield resident, the late Irene T. Fulesday, was a recipient of the honor in 1990 for her work with the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter of the ARC.
Mrs. Lutz was honored with the Clearfield Business & Professional Women’s “Woman of the Year” Award in 2009.
Upon accepting the plaque, Lutz thanked the club for presenting it to her. She fondly recalled various blood drives, such as her first one at St. John Lutheran Church in Clearfield. She greeted 52 in the first hour alone, registering 200 and netting 182 pints.
“My head was swimming,” Lutz said.
And, she recalled that just a few days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a blood drive was held at the Expo I Building in Clearfield and they had 200 potential doors by 9 a.m.
That day she said they ended up collecting 150 pints and turned 100 people away. She said that time spent on this blood drive alone was monumental and included getting the venue, volunteers to register, walkers, canteen help and food donated by numerous businesses.
“Community residents even brought cookies and beverages; many donors were fed twice that day, just because of the extra time that they graciously waited,” she said.
According to her, in 2002-03, the fixed site was established at 438 Front St., Clearfield. She said that in the first year, there were 52 blood drives on top of the already scheduled ones, totaling 112 in all.
“I’ve been termed the ‘Blood Lady’ and throughout the years I’ve worn that title with honor,” Lutz said.
Established in Clearfield in 1977 by the Rotary Club, the first Outstanding Citizen of the Year Committee comprised of Bud Mather and Bob Mitchell. That year they honored W.K. Ulerich, publisher of The Progress.