James T. Reppert Community Spirit Award
The James T. Reppert Community Spirit Award is named in honor of the Americana Festival
founder and longtime trustee. Established in 2022, the festival’s 50th year, the award recognizes the
contributions and legacy of Jim Reppert, whose tireless efforts and commitment to offer a free,
family-friendly festival that celebrates America’s freedom, has been a guiding force for the event and
its volunteers.
Jim’s community spirit, leadership and volunteerism extended beyond the Americana
Festival and contributed to the outstanding quality of life we enjoy in Centerville and Washington
Township. He truly lived the Americana Festival’s mission to build, promote and sustain community
spirit through citizen participation.
Award Criteria
Award recipients will have made extraordinary volunteer contributions of time and talent to the
Americana Festival and/or the Centerville Washington Township community.
Note: Americana Festival committee members, Centerville City Council and Washington Township Trustees currently serving are not eligible for this award.
Nomination and Selection Process
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Nominees must be residents of the City of Centerville or Washington Township.
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Nominations should be submitted using the form below. Email nomination form to Info@americanafestival.org with “Community Spirit Award” in the Subject line.
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Nominations received by May 15 will be considered for the 2024 award. Those received after that date will be considered for future awards.
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Nominations will be reviewed by the Americana Festival Community Spirit Award Committee and evaluated on the nominee’s impact and length of service on the Americana Festival and/or community.
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Selection of the award recipient will be made annually in June.
Recognition
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The award will be presented during the Americana Festival Grand Marshall Reception on July 3. In addition, the award recipient will receive:
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An invitation to ride in the festival parade
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A year’s subscription to the Centerville Noon Optimist Avenue of Flags program
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To nominate someone for the James T. Reppert Community Spirit Award click the button down below.
Deadline for 2024 consideration: May 15, 2024
Email nomination form to Info@americanafestival.org with
“Community Spirit Award” in the subject line.
Who is James T. Reppert?
Jim Reppert served in a variety of leadership positions for the Americana Festival, an event he helped found in 1973—as a sidewalk sale. He led the festival for more than 40 years as a visionary, logistics chief, office manager and volunteer recruiter. He served as the festival’s first executive director and remained a trustee until his death in 2020. Under Jim’s guidance, the festival grew to include a parade, street fair, car show, fireworks, 5K run and more. The Americana Festival is a beloved signature event that welcomes 100,000 people to our community each year.
Reppert’s continued commitment to offer a free, family-friendly festival that celebrates America’s freedom has been a guiding force for the event and organizers. His gift of time, tireless devotion and expertise has made it possible for the festival to grow over the years to become the premier Independence Day celebration in our area.
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Jim’s community activities included serving on Centerville’s Board of Architectural Review, the Centerville-Washington Diversity Council Fire Dependents Board, Centerville-Washington Township Chamber of Commerce president, Kiwanis Club of Centerville and Dayton Chapter of the Retired Officers Association. He was elected to Centerville City Council, serving 1995-1999, and was a founder of the Landmarks Foundation of Centerville-Washington Township.
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Reppert attended the US Army Signal Corps Officers Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1952. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as well as in other countries and received numerous awards and decorations including the Joint Service and Army Commendation medals and the Bronze Star. He was most proud of the Army Good Conduct Medal he received for enlisted service between 1949 and 1952. Reppert retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970.
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He was named Grand Marshal in 2013. In 2021, the grand marshal’s reception was named in his honor.
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Col. Reppert proudly served his country and his community. He truly lived each day of the Festival’s mission of building community spirit.
For more information, contact the Americana Festival:
info@americanafestival.org.