Paul Rehn has been announced as the 2026 Morris F. Neighbor Community Impact Award recipient. The announcement was made by Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly and Chamber President Jill Ackerman during Marion's State of the City address on Monday.

Paul Rehn and his wife, Ann, moved their young family to Marion in 1969. What began as a new chapter quickly became a lifelong calling. Marion became their home; a community to serve, nurture and strengthen.

Paul Rehn served 12 years on the Marion City Council and was Marion's Mayor from 2008 to 2011. He dedicated 48 years to the Marion Fire Department, serving as a volunteer firefighter, participating in the honor guard, assisting with community education events and supporting firefighter well-being as a member of the peer support team.

He served his country as a member of the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1966. He has been a volunteer with the Hospice of Mercy, a volunteer chaplain with St. Luke's Hospital, a member of American Legion Post 298 and a member of the Marion Order of the Masons.

Rehn's service continues today through his involvement as the chair of Marion's Civil Service Commission, a position he has held for 10 years, guiding the hiring decisions for dozens of City employees during that time. He also serves on the board of directors for Area Ambulance Service.

"Paul Rehn is a shining example of a servant leader," said Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly. "It is an honor to recognize his nearly six decades of public service and a lifetime commitment to the community he calls home."

The Community Impact Award is presented annually by the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the City of Marion. It honors longtime banker and community philanthropist Morris F. Neighbor. Neighbor began his career at Farmers State Bank in 1945 as a teller and in 1968, he and his wife, Betty, purchased the bank. Throughout his career, he championed the importance of volunteerism and dedication to community. Through his leadership, the Neighbor family has given to countless capital campaigns, community events and charitable organizations. Mr. Neighbor passed away in 2019 at the age of 100. His legacy lives on, in part, through the Morris F. Neighbor Community Impact Award.