Moraine Trails Council honors Millie Pinkerton, Butler Tourism Bureau in award ceremony
Millie Pinkerton and her late husband, Dale, moved 14 times before settling in Butler in 1980, and, she said, the couple was welcomed by people in the county with open arms.
On Thursday, Pinkerton, who was born in Pittsburgh, was named this year’s Distinguished Citizen at the annual Moraine Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizens Award Gala Reception.
The Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau was recognized as Organization of the Year.
Pinkerton and Amy Pack, new incoming executive director of the tourism bureau, received awards honoring their commitment to community, and their support of scouting and youth in the region.
David J. Spigelmyer, who serves on the board of directors for the Moraine Trails Council, welcomed attendees and told them how 15 years ago, he was an assistant scoutmaster. On Thursday evening, he watched as scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem and presented honorees with awards.
Honorees and Moraine Trails Council Reception Steering Committee raised more than $50,000 for scouting this year, Spigelmyer said.
Pinkerton has served in numerous capacities on the Butler Rotary Club PM board, the YMCA, Butler County Symphony Association, Butler Country Club’s Women’s Golf Association, Maridon Museum, Town and Country Garden Club, and Butler Health System Foundation Board. She was the first woman president of the YMCA and served on the national board for 10 years.
She and her late husband, a former county commissioner, were stalwarts of the community, Spigelmyer said before the event.
When asked what drives her passion for leadership and philanthropy, Pinkerton simply said, “The people.”
“In these times, scouting and programs that have helped shape our youth are so important, more important now than ever,” Pinkerton said in her speech.
The first Distinguished Citizens event was in 2010.
Pack, who served 11 years as senior director of tourism development, thanked Moraine Trails Council in her speech and said the parallels between the organization’s mission and the tourism bureau in their work to promote the outdoors and community programming for youth.
“You build communities by growing strong and thoughtful leaders of today and tomorrow,” she said.
The tourism bureau, which was founded in 2002, drew visitors who spent $507 million in Butler County in 2021 and provided more than 3,700 jobs that year, according to Pack.
