Jon Quinday Receives the Max Embree “Distinguished Service Award”
This award was established in honor of Max Embree, of Colby Kansas who played a leading role in the early years of KMEA. The award honors his memory and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and devoted service to both KMEA and Public Power.
This year’s recipient of the Max Embree Distinguished Service Award was Jon Quinday, the City Manager for the City of Russell. Jon has served in many positions within his community, starting as a police officer and over the years working his way up to city manager. For 12 years, he managed a full-service municipality with over 90 employees and an annual budget exceeding $30 million, and encompassing electric, water, wastewater, sewer, and sanitation utilities, along with county-wide 911 communications. Through all his various roles including former school board president and board member for both Kansas Municipal Utilities and Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, and President of the KMEA Executive Committee, he’s gained firsthand insight into the complexities of municipal governance.
Jon Quinday is a combat veteran. He started his career in the United States Army, serving proudly for 8 years in the 501st Military Intelligence Battalion, 1st Armored Division and the 504th Military Police Battalion, 4th Infantry Division and being stationed all over the world, from Ansbach, Germany to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. After the Army, Jon moved to Russell, Kansas. He initially served his city as a Police Captain for a decade and then as Chief of Police for 4 years. In 2012, after 14 years on the force, he was promoted to City Manager and for the next 12 years he excelled in his role. His dedication to the community is shown by successfully being awarded over $32 million dollars in grants funds. Throughout his tenure as City Manager, he wore multiple hats successfully and never stopped striving for the highest standards of professionalism and governance in order to serve his community to the best of his ability.
After 27 years of dedicated public service to his community, Jon retired from his role of City Manager.
Ralph Streit Receives the Dedicated Commitment to Service Award
This award was established to recognize an employee of a KMEA member city who has, over a period of years, demonstrated outstanding performance and made significant local contribution to their municipal utility.
This year’s recipient of the Dedicated Commitment to Service Award was Ralph Streit, the Electric Production Superintendent for the City of Larned. Ralph began working as a Power Plant Operator for the city in 1992. In 2006, the city appointed Ralph as the Electric Production Superintendent. Since that time, for the past 18 years, he has continuously and faithfully served the city in this role and has displayed both innovation and inspiration along the way, often working 24-hour days. In the words of the city manager of the City of Larned; “He is passionate and wholly devoted to ensuring the best for the citizens of our community. He’s constantly upbeat and always sees the best in others, and there isn’t one area within the organization that he hasn’t helped to make better in one way or another. This award is a great way to recognize his hard work and dedication to our citizens. I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more. There is no one I’d rather have by my side during a Polar Vortex.”
Ralph actively dedicates his free time to Masonry, the Shriner’s Organization, and the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. He currently sits on the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors and will serve as the second vice-president in the coming year. Additionally, he volunteers his time as the Kansas Masonic Marching Band Camp Director, where he joyfully instructs up to 200 high school marching band members at their week-long camp, culminating in a performance in the halftime show at the Kansas Shrine Bowl. As if that weren’t enough, he also serves as Trustee on the Kansas Masonic Foundation Board, and as President of the Sunflower Shrine Club in Great Bend.
Ralph is married, has two sons and four beautiful grandchildren.
