ALLIANCE, Ohio — The University of Mount Union’s Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement has announced the recipients of the Ralph Regula Award for Public Service and the Mary Regula Award for Community Service. ­The winners, Sheriff George Maier and Dr. Jim Perone, respectively, will be recognized at the Regula Center Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 2 at the Alliance Country Club.

The Ralph Regula Award for Public Service recognizes an individual who exemplifies the ideals of the late Ralph Regula, who spent his career as a public servant. It is given annually to a person employed in the public sector in Stark County who is dedicated to their career and consistently works for the betterment of Stark County. The recipient of the 2024 Ralph Regula Award for Public Service is Sheriff George T. Maier.

Maier has been a law enforcement professional for over 40 years, serving as a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol locally and throughout the State of Ohio. He was appointed Stark County sheriff in 2013 and has held the elected seat as Stark County sheriff for the past 11 years, serving and leading his office to protect and serve the Stark County community. He is committed to public service and enjoys engaging in community events, both as a community leader and as a resident citizen of Stark County.

Maier was a Washington High School graduate and currently lives in Massillon with his wife Misty. He has three adult children, George II, Johnnie and Michael Maier, along with six grandchildren.

Perone and Maier (Perone photo credit | Denny Valentine)

The Mary Regula Award for Community Service is given annually to an individual in Stark County who volunteers their time to improve the lives of others, much like Mary’s commitment to the legacy of first ladies, improving the lives of those in Stark County and serving others. The recipient of the 2024 Mary Regula Award for Community Service is Dr. Jim Perone.

A native of Columbus, Perone earned degrees in music education, clarinet performance and music theory from Capital University and the State University of New York at Buffalo. After teaching and performing in the Buffalo area, he and his wife, Karen, moved to Alliance in 1994. Perone retired in 2019 after teaching and serving in administrative capacities at Mount Union for 25 years.

Active throughout the Alliance area, Perone currently serves on the boards of the Alliance Kiwanis Club (treasurer), Alliance Community Pantry (secretary), Union Avenue United Methodist Church Pre-School and the Alliance Symphony Orchestra. He is also the on-camera host of the Society’s award-winning “Marking Time in Alliance” YouTube video series and serves as a docent for the Alliance Historical Society and the Castle Crusaders.

Active as a musician, Perone plays the clarinet in the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra and the Canton Concert Band, as well as a variety of instruments for Carnation City Players and Rock Salt and Nails. A member of Union Avenue United Methodist Church, he is active with the Church’s Coffee Cart Ministry at Mount Union, plays in the handbell choir, plays electric bass in the Praise Team and is a member of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee

The Regula Center annual meeting will recognize these award winners, celebrate student accomplishments and offer an update on successes in the Center over the past year. All are welcome to attend and tickets are $30 each. Reservations can still be made to attend. Please RSVP by visiting https://www.mountunion.edu/academics/centers/regula-center.