Stenson wins Hillsboro Distinguished Citizen Award

May 30, 2012

Tuality Healthcare’s Dick Stenson walked away with the top prize at last week’s 2012 Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce awards celebration at the Tuality Health and Education Center. Two couples with strong ties to Tuality Healthcare – Gene and Sue Horton and George and Ruth Burlingham – were also honored by the chamber for their volunteer and philanthropic work in Hillsboro, Forest Grove and the surrounding area.

Stenson, who has served as Tuality president and chief executive officer since 1992, was the winner of the Emma C. McKinney Distinguished Citizen Award. Emma McKinney was co-publisher and editor of the Hillsboro Argus for 58 years. Stenson’s nomination for the award pointed out how his extensive partnerships and relationships, coupled with his work for many charities, have made Hillsboro a better place to live.

Picking up the citizen award was Stenson’s second visit to the podium. Earlier in the program, he had the pleasure of announcing George and Ruth Burlingham as the winners of the Philanthropic Leadership Award. The Burlingham’s two main philanthropies are Pacific University in Forest Grove and Tuality Healthcare. Ruth Burlingham has served on various Tuality boards for 27 years, including serving as chairman of the board. They are Ivy League level donors with gifts of over $100,000.

The Tuality theme continued with the announcement of Gene and Sue Horton as Volunteer of the Year award winners. Sue Horton is a longtime Tuality Healthcare Foundation board member who is also passionate about continuing education. Gene Horton is a longtime Hillsboro Rotary Club member, Royal Rosarian, Hillsboro Budget Committee member, as well as promoter of educational opportunities around the world.

The other award winners are:

• Robert Herb Leadership award – Fred Johnson, of Columbia Community Bank, who devotes time and energy to First Baptist Church, Hillsboro Rotary, Hillsboro City Budget committee and more. (Robert Herb is a member of the Tuality Healthcare Foundation board as well as a former head of the Hillsboro Chamber.)
• Distinguished Youth – Natalie Breiland, Hillsboro High School senior, ASB vice president and active in leadership.
• Agricultural Achievement – Finegan Farms, a 40-acre farm in the 1950s that has grown to almost 2,000 acres and is Washington County's largest vegetable farm.
• Professional of the Year – Rob Massar, former assistant manager for the city of Hillsboro who helped acquire property for the Plaza and Civic Center.
• Organization of the Year – Hillsboro Farmers Market, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
• Business of the Year – Columbia Industries LLC, a family-owned business that has been manufacturing in Hillsboro for more than 35 years.
• Chairman's Award – Denzil Scheller, the creator of the Venetian Theatre in 2008.