Former Howard County Executive Charles (Chuck) Ecker and his wife, Peggy, are this year’s winners of The Arc of Howard County’s Jim Greenfield Compassionate Leadership Award. The Eckers will receive the award at a dinner in their honor on Thursday, June 28, at the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville.
A Maryland native, Ecker served two terms as county executive, but he devoted most of his professional life to education, serving as assistant superintendent, associate superintendent for business management and finance, and deputy superintendent of the Howard County Public School System from 1974–89. He joined the Carroll County Public School System in 2000 as interim superintendent, then served as superintendent from 2002–10.
He served on The Arc’s board of directors from 2000–08 and has chaired the Chocolate Ball since 2008.
Peggy Ecker taught physical education at Taneytown Junior/Senior High School and later at Forestville Elementary School in Prince George’s County. She also taught food studies at St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg.
After retiring from teaching, she served on the Howard County General Hospital Foundation’s board of directors and worked on other community projects. But her proudest accomplishment was organizing Spotlight on the Arts, the Howard County Arts Council’s first fundraising gala. Proceeds funded scholarships for art students.
The Arc’s Compassionate Leadership Award recognizes Columbia Builders president Jim Greenfield’s more than 30 years of service to The Arc, as a volunteer and generous donor. The tribute to the Eckers includes a reception, country buffet dinner and award presentation featuring family members, friends and colleagues. Individual tickets are $100 for the general public and $75 for public school educators.
For information, call 410-730-0638 or contact kswanson@archoward.org.
