Joseph Rider Receives Nichols Community Service Award

Remarks by President Jennifer Heverly, at the 2018 annual banquet:

The William E. Nichols Community Service Award was created by the Lycoming Law Association to recognize a member for outstanding community service and for exemplifying the positive role that attorneys play in our community beyond the practice of law. It is named for a long-time member of this association, Bill Nichols, who was its first recipient.

This year, I am absolutely delighted to give this award to Joseph Rider. Joe spent his entire career donating his time and talent to make this community a better place to live and work. His service spans 56 years, and I cannot possibly cover it all, but I want to give you a few of the highlights.

Joe is and has been a very active member of the Lycoming Foundation, now known as the Lycoming Economic Development Foundation. The Foundation gives very low interest, fixed rate loans to Lycoming Co. businesses for new building construction, building expansion, renovations, equipment and more. The Foundation has provided substantial funds for many businesses in Lycoming County, including many of those in the Reach Road Industrial Park. The underlying purpose is to create more employment for the area.

Joe was also a member of The Park Home board for 17 years, while it was still operating as an assisted living facility.

Joe was a founding member of the Divine Providence Foundation. He continued as a member for 11 years, until it disbanded during the alliance between Divine Providence and Williamsport Hospital.

Joe was one of the original school board members of St. Ann’s School – the county’s first non-graded school – which was started in 1968. He continues to be an active member and supporter of St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of Rider Park, which was created through a bequest by Joe’s uncle, Thomas Rider, after his death in 1988. Joe was the attorney for his uncle’s estate, and as such, was central to establishing the park and carrying out his uncle’s plan to preserve more than 867 acres for public use.

Joe has also served as a advisory member at Bishop Neumann, the North Central Sight Services, Inc., and the Crippled Children’s Association, and he was a member of the Loyalsock Kiwanis and the Williamsport Jaycees’.

Joe has been a board member of the Lycoming Law Association Foundation since its beginning in 1989. He served as a delegate on the PBA’s House of Delegates for 10 years and served as president of the Lycoming Law Association. He has always maintained his membership with this Association, the PBA, and the ABA. He also received the Equal Access to Justice Award in 2007 for his pro bono work in Lycoming County.

Joe couldn’t be here tonight to accept this honor and our gratitude, so I hope you will take the time to congratulate and thank him for his many years of service to Lycoming County. The Law Association will present Joe with a plaque and make a donation of $1000 to the charitable organization of his choice.