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2025 Clocktower Award

Del B. Salmon

Del B. Salmon is the owner and sole member of The Salmon Law Firm, PLLC in Amsterdam. His Law Firm was established by his Grandfather, Carl S. Salmon, Sr., on December 1, 1911. Del is a third generation Attor-ney in the firm. He is an Elder Law Attorney with a practice that focuses on Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Asset protection, and Medicaid Qualification.

Del earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Vermont Law School. He also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Maryland College Park, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Rochester.

Del is actively involved in Community Affairs. Del was a member of the FM Foundation for over 25 years and served as Chair of the Foundation from 2002-2004 and again from 2013 -2019.

Among other things, Del was intimately involved in raising funds for the construction of the Allen House.

There has been a Salmon involved with FM for the past 60 years.

Carl S. Salmon, Jr., was a founding Trustee and served on the Board for many years. In addition to FM, Del serves or has served as a Board Member and Officer of the following Charitable Organizations: The Robert and Dorothy Ludwig Jewish Community Center; Daughters of Sarah Community for Seniors Massry Residence and Nursing Center; Congregation Gates of Heaven; Community Hospice and Pallia-tive Care; Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care; Amsterdam Free Library; St. Mary’s Hospital Founda-tion; Montgomery County Office for Aging Foundation; and WMHT Educational Telecommunications, Inc.

Del is also a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness for the Fourth Judicial District for the New York State Bar Association.

Foundation: Clocktower

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2024 Clocktower Award

Rick And Mary-Fox Frasier

Rick and Mary currently reside in Fonda, New York and have been happily married for 22 years. They enjoy spending time with their blended family. Together, they share the joy of family outings with Rick’s four children and ten grandchildren. They are both passionate about traveling and cherish their family adventures.

Mary is a retired educator with over 23 years of experience specializing in supporting individuals with learning and behavioral needs. Mary holds a Master of Science in Education from the College of Saint Rose, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, and was inducted into prestigious honor societies such as Delta Epsilon Sigma and Kappa Gamma Pi.

Before that, she transferred from Fulton Montgomery Community College, earning honors with membership in Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Alpha Upsilon Chapter.

Beyond her teaching career, Mary has been deeply committed to community service. She has volunteered with various organizations, including Fulton Montgomery Cooperative ExtensionCatholic Charities, The Foundation of Fulton-Montgomery Community College, The Miracle-Ear Foundation, and The Family Counseling Center. Her dedication to making a difference extends to participating in both local and national fundraising efforts.

Foundation: Clocktower

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2023 Clocktower Award

Anne Putnam, CEO.- Fenimore Asset Management

Fenimore Asset Management Manager of The FAM Funds

Thomas O. Putnam founded Fenimore Asset Management in 1974 to manage family capital after the sale of Fenimore Fabrics, the Putnam’s textile business.

Tom’s research driven, quality-focused, and concentrated investment approach produced compelling results that brought many individuals and families to his door seeking assistance.

Fenimore’s first institutional investor engaged us in 1976 — they remain an investor to this day. Fenimore has grown to $4.12B in assets under management (as of 9/30/2023) and is locally rooted and nationally recognized.

As a family steeped in tradition and independently owned and operated, Fenimore remains focused on our investors and seeks to be Your Trusted Investment Partner.

Thomas O. Putnam founded Fenimore Asset Management in 1974 to manage family capital after the sale of Fenimore Fabrics, the Putnam’s textile business.

Tom’s research driven, quality-focused, and concentrated investment approach produced compelling results that brought many individuals and families to his door seeking assistance.

Fenimore’s first institutional investor engaged us in 1976 — they remain an investor to this day. Fenimore has grown to $4.12B in assets under management (as of 9/30/2023) and is locally rooted and nationally recognized.

As a family steeped in tradition and independently owned and operated, Fenimore remains focused on our investors and seeks to be Your Trusted Investment Partner.

Foundation: Clocktower

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2022 Clocktower Award

Dr. Govind Rao, an alumnus of Osmania Medical College, India, has been practicing in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in Amsterdam, NY since July 1972. After graduating in India, he arrived in the United States of America with only $4 dollars in his pocket, 2 suitcases, and his 6-month pregnant wife.

He and his staff work out of the Neena Rao Medical Center, named after his late daughter, Neena.

Over the years, Dr. Rao, his wife Jyothi, and their 3 children have been philanthropical not only to Fulton-Montgomery Community College and the local community, but worldwide. The Rao Family are avid supporters of many community organizations including:

  • Office for the Aging
  • Amsterdam Free Library
  • Catholic Charities
  • Walter Elwood Museum
  • Amsterdam YMCA
  • Centro Civico
  • Danielle’s House Homeless Shelter,
  • the Greater Amsterdam School District
  • Salvation Army
  • local Veterans and their families
  • and St. Mary’s Healthcare

Under his guidance and donations, a 1,000-bed pediatric hospital, an operation theatre complex, and conference hall was built, and renovations to the library were made for the Niloufer Hospital in India. Also, the 600-bed Osmania Hospital in India was renovated where all medical care is free. His family has donated to the Hindu Temple in order to build the Hindu Cultural Center and the Neena Rao Education Wing. After part of the Walter Elwood Museum was destroyed, his family helped to buy the Noteworthy Building, now named The Rao Center, which includes the Walter Elwood Museum Education Center. Dr. Rao and his family have donated to the FM Foundation to assist renovations to science laboratories. He assists with summer camps at the YMCA and helped to create a digital learning center at the Amsterdam Free Library named the “Neena Rao Digital Learning Center”, connecting community, and opening opportunity. Through the Rao Family’s generosity, the College renovated the Rao Theater in 2019 to assist the College to give students a Iirst-class education. Most recently, the Rao Family donated $750,000 toward construction of a new building for Montgomery County SPCA, which will be named, “The Neena Rao Family Animal Shelter”.

Dr. Rao was awarded the Hind Rattan Award (Jewel of India) by the Health Secretary of India; he was Chief Guest at the Alumni Global Meet of Osmania Medical College in 2011; and was named Amsterdam Rotary Club’s 2013 Citizen of the Year. In April 2018, Dr. Rao was honored by Montgomery County OFA for his contributions to our local community.

Foundation: Clocktower

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2021 Clocktower Award

The Johnstown Hospital Foundation was created after the Johnstown Hospital was reinvented into the Regional Health Center.

The Foundations purpose was to make sure Johnstown residents would not lose easy access to emergency care, and to a greater extent, healthcare in general, once the hospital closed.  The Foundation also wanted to give significant support to JAVAC (Johnstown Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps).  Additionally, the mission of the Foundation included supporting Nathan Littauer Hospital (closest and most used Hospital), Hospice, and Fulton- Montgomery Community College (recognized for the College’s role in educating healthcare workers).

Since 1991, over 3 million dollars has been awarded to these various organizations. Fulton-Montgomery Community College has been a recipient of a portion of those dollars.  The Johnstown Hospital Foundation has supported FM through scholarships and upgrades for equipment, to supplement healthcare programs.  Recently the FM Radiology Lab was the recipient of $118,000.00, from the Johnstown Hospital Foundation, to renovate and advance the “Rad Tech” lab. The major portion of this donation will be used to purchase digital imaging equipment, a pediatric phantom, skeletons, and mammography software. This donation allows FM to be competitive in attracting students and to offer the best training on the most up-to-date equipment and materials.  Because of these upgrades FM is able to provide the clinical sites with students that are well prepared for Radiology Lab positions.

The Johnstown Hospital Foundation’s continues to ensure that there is a healthcare safety net for Johnstown and the surrounding areas.  Through their continued financial support to institutions like FM, the Johnstown Hospital Foundation can foster the improvement of the quality of medical, hospital, healthcare, and extended healthcare to the citizens of Johnstown and surrounding areas .

Foundation: Clocktower

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