The Rome Historical Society will honor Michael D. Occhipinti with the 2010 Medal of 1777 award at a special ceremony held 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10 at The Beeches on Turin Road.

The community may attend. For reservations, contact Rome Historical Society, 200 Church St., or call 336-5870. Ticket prices are $35 per person.

A life-long Roman, Occhipinti is greatly known for the accomplishments made throughout his banking career and as a contributor to his community at the Rome YMCA and Rome Rotary.

The Medal of 1777 symbolizes the unconquered defenders of Fort Stanwix during the British siege in the American Revolution. Each year the medal is awarded to an individual who has exhibited dedication to the preservation of local history and the American heritage.

The gold medal, certificate and citation is selectively awarded to community members who have conducted the highest charter purposes of the Rome Historical Society and show the finest virtues of citizenship and the ever-reliant qualities of a true patriot, Rome Historical Society Executive Director Robert Avery said. The names and citations of medal holders are always preserved in the archives of the society, he said.

Occhipinti said he was humbled by the honor.

"I was very surprised when they called to tell me," he said. "I certainly feel humbled and excited for receiving this. I feel that there’s so many good people who deserve it more."

At the age of 3, Occhipinti was stricken with polio, and he continues to live with the disability. A member of the Rome Free Academy Class of 1949, he began his banking career on Jan. 2, 1951 when he was hired by the Rome Trust Company, working at several departments within the bank.

In 1955 Occhipinti was promoted to head teller, and in 1957 was made an officer of the bank, being promoted to assistant treasurer. In 1957 he made branch manager at the Mohawk Acres Branch Office, and in 1970 was promoted to assistant vice-president and branch manager of the office. He retired in May 1994, having worked for 43 years.

In January 2008, Occhipinti accepted a job with Rome Savings Bank, with the title of community relations specialist, where he continues to help people with their financial needs.

At the young age of 16, Occhipinti worked for the Rome YMCA in the Boys Department, where he helped form a YMCA Basketball League for boys age 16 and younger. He was a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 11 for seven years, and had more than 60 members in his troop when he left. He also served as chairman of the Fort Stanwix Council.

In 1970, Occhipinti served on the Rome Centennial Committee. With several of the "Brothers of the Brush" groups formed back then, Occhipinti organized the "Who is Number 1," which created some fun and excitement within the city.

He served as vice-chairman of the Bicentennial Committee. Occhipinti put together the Bicentennial Premier at the Armory, where he was instrumental in obtaining moon rocks and the Francis Bellamy papers for display. There were about 5,000 people who attended the three-day event.

With help from the Italian clubs of Rome, and using the St. John the Baptist Church parking lot, Occhipinti organized the "Longest Spaghetti Table" as one of the events during Bicentennial Week and served pasta and beans throughout the day to 5,000 people. An air photo of the table was taken and by the next day, it hit the Associated Press wires. The picture was also shown in a Rome, Italy newspaper, and a story was featured in Time Magazine.

Occhipinti also served on the United Way Committee; as treasurer of the Rome Jaycees and organized a parade in Rome on Flag Day; worked with the Elks Club of Rome to organize another parade on Flag Day in downtown Rome; was a committee member of Rome Sports Hall of Fame; served as chairman of the 100th anniversary for St. John the Baptist Church; and organized and is chairman of the Rome Bowl Game played in October at RFA stadium. Working with the Rome Colts POP Warner football team, together with the Rome Sports Hall of Fame, the game is now in its fourth year, with invitations going out to teams from outside the area to come play. Occhipinti was also one of the driving forces behind the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier being built in Rome.

As for Rome Rotary, Occhipinti joined the club in 1970 with the classification of Commercial Banking, and has served on several of its committees. Occhipinti served on its Board of Directors and served as president from 1980-81. He brought the club membership up to 90 before leaving office.

He served as chairman of the Rome Rotary 60th, 70th, 75th and 90th anniversaries. For the 75th anniversary, Occhipinti was able to bring the Glen Miller Orchestra for entertainment.

After leaving office of Rome Rotary, Occhipinti was approached to run for office as district governor. He was unanimously selected as district governor elect at the 1984 district conference held in Pennsylvania, and in 1985-86, became district governor of 40 Rotary clubs in the central New York region. At the international meetings Occhipinti attended, he brought in the "Gift of Life" program into his Rotary district. The program ran for 13 years with 34 children from 10 countries receiving open heart surgery.

With the help of his club at the district conference held in Toronto, Canada, Occhipinti had a record crowd in attendance, which to this day has not been equaled. He asked every Rotarian in his district to give $2, and he was able to raise more than $4,000. Working together with his governor counter-part in India, Occhipinti helped build 40 homes in their district, with the names of club members placed outside every house.

After finishing his term as governor, Occhipinti was made a Paul Harris Fellow.

With more than 450 Rotary districts in the world, it was impossible for the current president of Rotary International to visit every district in the world to speak at their district conference during their one term in office. Rotary International, working with the current presidents, would assign a past Rotary International president, Rotary directors or the past-district governor to represent the president and his wife at the conference.

Occhipinti and his wife were chosen by three Rotary International presidents to represent them. In 1987 he and his wife traveled to Minneapolis, Minn. to speak at their district conference, in 1988 in Ottawa, Canada and in 1995 at Tamiment, Pa.

In 1993 Occhipinti’s name was submitted to Rotary International for the "Service Above Self" award. Out of 1.1 million Rotarians, only 91 were chosen for the award. Occhipinti was one of the 91 selected and the award was presented to him by the current district governor at a conference held in Niagara Falls.

Occhipinti has also worked with a group of Rotarians, veterans and city leaders to develop and enhance a veterans’ War Memorial for those in Rome who died during World War II at the sight of the B-52 bomber.

In 2008, Occhipinti was asked to serve as chairman of the Polio Eradication Committee for his district. As of June 30 of this year, the amount raised by clubs in his district was $100,400. His term will end June 30, 2012.