Middlebury — John Rouse, owner of Rouse Tire in Middlebury, received the American Legion Community Service Award presented at a recent event.
Rouse was recognized for his involvement in sports, both as a former student at Middlebury Union High School and currently as a sidelines coach for the MUHS varsity football team, and as president of the Friends of Middlebury Football.
Rouse is a member of the Middlebury Rotary Club as well as road commissioner for the Town of Salisbury and on the Salisbury Select Board.
Rouse’s philanthropic work across the state is less well known than his local community work. He supports Twin State Field Hockey, Middlebury Lions Club, Vermont Tractor Puller’s Association, Ripton Ridge Run, Face Off Against Breast Cancer, Addison County Fair & Field Days, Middlebury Amateur Hockey Association, Shriners, Middlebury American Legion, Addison County American Legion Baseball Team, Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, Bridport Grange, all the Addison County fire Departments, Snowmobile Clubs, Henry Sheldon Museum, Middlebury Memorial Sports Center, Snake Mountain Cruisers, Vermont Gold Association Scholarship Fund, Addison county Farm bureau, several alumni associations, Vermont Association of Chiefs of Police Scholarship Fund, and numerous school programs and clubs.
Tom Scanlon, adjutant of the Middlebury American Legion Post 27, said Rouse “is the epitome of the saying ‘local boy makes good’” and has continuously paid it forward. The American Legion is proud to acknowledge John Rouse for his “Community Service.”