Marlin earns top Ozzie Award

Last edited 9:34 a.m., July 14, 2015

The Springfield Regional Arts Council selected Marlin Co. to receive its Organization Award during the 30th annual Ozzie Awards.

The 30-year-old advertising company was noted by SRAC for supporting the Springfield arts and design community, as well as the Downtown Springfield Association, Springfield Creatives, Missouri State University’s Brick City and IDEA Commons, according to a news release.

During a Sept. 12 award ceremony at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, the SRAC also will honor Bob White and Thomas Russo, as well as the Artworks Summer Art Program.

White, who died in 2013, will be posthumously honored with the Legacy Award for his work in helping develop Artsfest by working with local banks, creating the official Greene County seal and working as a Springfield Public Schools art teacher, according to the release.

Russo will receive the Individual Award for his work teaching art and art history at Drury University. He started the Greater Ozarks Art Tour and served as chairman of the  Arts Patronage Sustainability Initiative, which gave rise to the Springfield Arts Collaborative Endowment.

Receiving the Education Award will be the the Artworks Summer Art Program, a two-week, multidisplinary program for third- through eighth-grade students that allows them to study with professional artists, according to the release.