Pucketts receive servant leadership award

With strong roots supporting soldiers and their families, retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett and his wife, Jeannie, were presented the Fourth Annual Sue Marie and Bill Turner Servant Leadership Award during a gala Thursday night.

The ballroom at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center was filled with Rangers, community leaders and other supporters of the couple, who were recognized by the Board of Trustees of the Pastoral Institute for their commitment to serving others.

Ralph is an inaugural inductee of the 1992 Ranger Hall of Fame and a decorated soldier who served in the Korean War. Described by Ralph as the "wind beneath my wings," Jeannie serves in a support role with active military wives and in other roles such as a Girl Scout Troop leader and hospital volunteer.

Both remained humble before they were presented a bowl by glass artist Sally Denham.

Dressed in his Class A uniform, Ralph recognized the Rangers supporting him and Jeannie after more than six decades. "They have looked after me for 60 some years and are still doing it," he said. "I appreciate it. They carried me on their shoulders."

Still serving as honorary instructor at Fort Benning, the retired colonel said he gets energized by being around soldiers. "They revitalize me," Ralph said. "Just being around them encourages me to try to do more. They are very good to me and they are very supportive. I like them; I love them. They are great guys."

Jeannie said she didn't know what landed the couple at the black-tie gala. "I'm just overcome with emotions now," she said. "We are very honored to be in the company of the people who have received this award before us. I appreciate that."

The Pucketts join Bill and Sue Marie Turner, the first recipients in 2012, along with Jimmy and Sis Blanchard in 2013 and Ruth and Marvin Schuster in 2014.

The couple's relationship started in 1950 when Jeannie met Ralph at Martin Army Community Hospital. He was at Fort Benning recovering from wounds sustained in the early days of the Korean War. They married two years later and raised three children during 19 years of military service and 22 moves. Jeannie has been credited with holding the family together.

When asked what she would tell young people about making a contribution to the community, Jeannie said she would like to write a book on that topic.

"I think you know we all need to help each other on this road, this path of life," she said. "I think anybody that comes in our path, we should be willing to help."

Jeannie agrees that there are obstacles to making a difference in the community, but people need to work together.

"Maybe the attitude is that it can't be done," she said. "We need to come in and solve this problem. We have a lot of problems, so we need to work as a team, all backgrounds, all races and we need to focus on that. We are all human beings. We all have the same needs, so we need to look after each other."

Humility is noted in Ralph's book, "Words for Warriors: A Professional Soldier's Notebook." He quotes a statement from General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends."

Before the Pucketts were honored, Carmen Overton, director of development for the Pastoral Institute, said the couple are some of the most humble people she has ever met. Ralph is a military hero and is well-respected on a national level, while Jeannie has been in a supportive role as a military spouse. "When you are around her, she just makes you feel so good," Overton said. "She has a spirit of hospitality and encouragement."

Whether you are in the military or working as a civilian, Ralph said, he would encourage young people to never be satisfied with just getting by with an ordinary job.

"Whatever it is, give yourself to it 100 percent whether that's in civilian life or in the military," he said. "You can always do better by a little harder work, little concentration, little more study and review what you have done. You can do better."

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 10:37 PM with the headline "Pucketts receive servant leadership award."