Charles Van Dyne, Ada attorney and member of the Kenton Elks Lodge #157, has been named the Elk of the Year by the Ohio Elks Association. 

Van Dyne was nominated by his home lodge for his many years of dedication to not only the Kenton Lodge but also the Ohio Elks Association and the national organization, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. 

Van Dyne’s was initiated into the Kenton Lodge in 1957. Some of the major milestones of his Elk career include:

• serving as Exalted Ruler of Kenton Lodge in 1968-1969,
• elected chairman of the West Central District in 1977
• named a District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler in 1980-1981. 

While holding district and national positions, he continued to serve the local lodge as a trustee and on other committees.  He was elected an Honorary Life member in 1983, one of only four current members so honored.

Van Dyne served the national Elks organization on the Judiciary Committee and while serving on the Grand Forum, he was named Chief Justice (the equivalent of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court). 

In July of 2006, Van Dyne presented the general eulogy at the Elks national memorial service in Orlando. Despite being involved in the national organization he continues to be a mentor and leader at the Kenton Lodge.

One Elk is named each year to receive this award. Van Dyne was presented his award by then State President Dan Beaston of Fremont at the annual Ohio Elks Convention held in April in Dublin. 

He is the only Kenton member to ever benamed the Elk of the Year. Kenton member Billy Southworth, a professional baseball player from the 1950s-'60s was named to the Ohio Elk Hall of Fame in 1963.