Jerry Lewis, local McDonald's Restaurant owner, was recently honored by McDonald's Corp. with the Golden Arch Award at the 2010 McDonald's Worldwide Convention in Orlando, Florida.

The McDonald's Golden Arch Award is the most prestigious award given to McDonald's owners and honors the "best of the best" in the McDonald's owner/operator community.

Less than one percent of franchise owners earn this honor of a lifetime. This award recognizes the recipient's focus on customer service, outstanding quality, service, cleanliness and value, significant community involvement, exceptional achievements in all areas of McDonald's Plan to Win, and contributions to the success of the McDonald's brand.

Lewis said, "I am honored and humbled by the award but it truly goes to my employees who are so committed to serving the customers each day. My people are the reason for this award."

After serving four years in the military, Lewis started his McDonald's career more than 30 years ago making McDonald's world famous french fries.

He realized that through McDonald's he could do two of the things he loved the most, serve customers and give back to the community in which he lived and did business. After moving through the management program Lewis built his first McDonald's Restaurant in Bluffton in 1987.

Today, Lewis is the owner of 17 McDonald's Restaurants in Lima, Delphos, Van Wert, Beaverdam, Bluffton, Ada, Ottawa, Hicksville, Carey and Upper Sandusky. He employs more than 850 people in a seven-country area.