Photo Provided Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce board President Aaron Bruggeman, center, presents Ruth Anderson and Monsignor Mark J. Froehlich with awards at the chamber’s annual Spring Banquet. Anderson was named Employee of the Year and Froehlich was named Citizen of the Year

BARNESVILLE — The Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce recognized two residents for their work in the community during its annual Spring Banquet.

Ruth Anderson, the volunteer coordinator at WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital, was named employee of the year, while Monsignor Mark J. Froehlich, who is retired from active ministry and works part time for the Barnesville Area Education Foundation, was named citizen of the year.

The event took place late last month.

Jill Hissom, director of the chamber, said each year the chamber requests resident nominations from the community that the board members then review to select the finalists. In total there were six nominations submitted for this year’s citizen of the year.

“After we got the nominations, we felt we had a good candidate for citizen of the year and employee of the year, and that’s how we ended up with two this year,” she said. “We felt we needed to have two categories after we got the nominations.”

Hissom said they decided to award two community members who were both deserving of the titles.

“They both have done so much for the community,” she said. “Monsignor is involved with the Kiwanis, the Rotary and the education foundation. He does a lot for the community.

“Ruth Anderson works for Barnesville Hospital where she does the Meals on Wheels program, and she is just a good candidate for employee of the year since she is still employed,” Hissom added.

Information provided by the chamber states that Froehlich was active in ministry for nearly 47 years, serving from 1969-2014.

In addition to serving diocesan parishes, he was involved in the communities where he was the Belmont County representative to the Tri-County 648 Board of Mental Health, president of the Bridgeport Rotary Club, and involved in the Barnesville Rotary Club, Barnesville Kiwanis Club, and St. Vincent dePaul Society. Froehlich currently serves as the treasurer of the Barnesville Area Ministerial Association, is a member of the chamber, Barnesville Area Education Foundation, Barnesville Community Foundation, and is a supporter of the Watt Center. Every year since he retired in 2014, he has participated in the Pumpkin Festival Parade alongside his golden retriever Mac (Noble Macbeth).

Anderson has worked at the hospital for more than 46 years and has been dedicated to helping to brighten the lives of patients and ensuring shifts were covered for meal deliveries, the chamber states. Previously, in addition to her work at the hospital, she was employed at Barnesville schools and at Kauffman’s department store.

The ceremony was held April 28. Froehlich and Anderson each werre recognized and presented with awards for their work.