Dale Blackledge & Robert Steele

Are 2009 Joe Neville Award Winners

 

 

        DELAWARE,OH—Dale Blackledge and Robert Steele will be honored as the co-2009 Joseph Neville Memorial Award winners.  Delaware Fair  officials will honor both men during the Mayor’s Breakfast to be held  Wednesday morning, September 23 at the hospitality pavilion located adjacent to the first turn of the racetrack.

 

        Blackledge, a native of Heath, OH and Steele, a native of Columbus, are the 11th and 12th  Joe Neville Award winners.  

 

        Blackledge worked 42-plus years in the racing office in the log cabin where he accepted race entries and helped to balance the starting fees. He was a graduate of Ohio State University and spent over 30 years working as the Licking County 4-H Extension Agent.

 

        Bob Steele served more than 40 years as general manager at Scioto Downs and 50 years as presiding judge at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.  He was a member of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and the United States Trotting Association. He was inducted into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1995.  Bob also served as a deputy sheriff for 56 years in Franklin County.  

 

        Tickets for the Mayor’s Breakfast are available for {$30} a person by phoning 1-800-335-3247 or by writing The Mayor’s Breakfast, PO Box 1278, Delaware, OH 43015.

 

 

                                                  Dale Blackledge                                                             Robert Steele