The Bluffton Lions Club selected Fred Steiner as the recipient of its Citizen of the Year award for 2017.

Steiner is the former director of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs. he is a member of the Bluffton Community Assistance Board, the Bluffton Pathway Bicycle Board, the R.L. and Etta Triplett Memorial Foundation and the Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery board.

Steiner is a published author with village history: “Bluffton - A Good Place to Miss,” and “The Bluffton We Never Knew: Photographs from our first half century 1861-1911.” 

In 2009 he and his wife, Mary, created The Bluffton Icon, an online news source for news, photos and contacts. The Ada Icon was formed in 2012.

Steiner is a fifth-generation Bluffton resident; his wife, Mary Pannabecker Steiner, is a fourth-generation Bluffton resident. They are members of First Mennonite Church. The couple are the parents of Lindsay Steiner of LaCrosse, Wisc., and Anne Steiner, of Cincinnati.

Steiner graduated from Bluffton High School, attended Bluffton College and graduated as a journalism major from Bowling Green State University. He served as editor of the Pandora Times for a year, followed by approximately 25 years as editor of the Bluffton News. During his editorship at the Bluffton News, the paper won several state and national awards.

A dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, to recognize Steiner’s accomplishments in the third floor meeting room of Bluffton’s Town Hall.

Reservations are required by April 8 and may be made by mailing payment of $17 per person to Bluffton Lions, Box 223, Bluffton or by calling Barbara Plaugher 419-204-2242 with payment guaranteed at the door. 

Previous winners
2016 - Barbara Plaugher
2015 - Oliver Lugibihl
2014 - Dennis Morrison
2013 – Richard Ramseyer
2012 – Bob and Beverly Amstutz
2011 – Elaine Harris
2010 – Jerry and Lori Lewis
2009 – Jean Muller
2008 – Maurice Fett
2007 – Dr. Howard Shelly
2006 – Richard and Margaret Weaver
2005 – Fred Rodabaugh
2004 – Richard and Betty Cookson
2003 – Ropp Triplett
2002 – Morris Groman
2001 – Jim and Jean Szabo
2000 – Don and Nancy Schweingruber
1999 – Roger Mullenhour
1998 – Richard Boehr
1997 – Wayne Matter
1996 – Jean Triplett
1995 – Helen Tschantz
1994 – Herman Hilty
1993 – Leland Lehman
1992 – Lois Rodabaugh
1991 – Earl Lehman
1990 – Howard Raid
1989 – Dr. B.W. Travis
1988 – Mary Emma Triplett
1987 – James F. West
1986 – Paul Stauffer
1985 – Forrest Steinman
1984 – Eugene Benroth
1983 – James Ehrman
1982 – A.C. Burcky
1981 – Dr. F.D. Rodabaugh