The American Nationalities Movement of Ohio presented Francis Rutkowski the Freedom Award at its 53rd Annual Captive Nations Dinner on July 17, 2014 at Wal-Tam's Grand Ballroom in Garfield Heights, Ohio.

The 53rd Annual Captive Nations Dinner was held during Captive Nations Week which was signed into law in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Every successive U.S. President has declared the third week of July to be Captive Nations Week to raise public awareness of the oppression of nations under the control of Communist and other non-democratic governments.

Hon. Judge Ralph J. (Rocky) Perk Jr., President of the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio, presented Francis Rutkowski with the Freedom Award.

Judge Ralph J. (Rocky) Perk Jr and Francis Rutkowski

A graduate of St. Edwards HS in 1960, he received his B.A. from Alliance College and his J.D. from Cleveland Marshall College of Law while beginning his career at the Cleveland Municipal Court in the Probation Department. He retired from the court as Supervisor of the Pre-Sentence Unit in 2002.

Mr. Rutkowski also served as an Adjunct Lecturer at CSU College of Urban Affairs, at Baldwin Wallace College, a faculty member of the Judicial College of the Ohio Supreme Court, and as an instructor on criminal justice and investigations at the Academy of Court Reporting.

He holds a licensed with the Ohio Department of Insurance -Life, Accident & Health and Variable Annuities. And received Insurance training at the Life Insurance Marketing/Management Institute of Purdue University in 1986.

Francis Rutkowski has continually updated his skills through nearly 60 courses and seminars from the early 1970's to the pre-sent in subjects ranging from Management in the courts thru the various specialties of Domestic Violence, Mentally ill offenders, Corrections and Technology in Criminal Justice to credit union investments. This has kept Francis on top of his game in all his endeavors and throughout his various careers.

He has received numerous honorary designations in his career. Most notable, as Presidential Delegate, United States Presidential Delegation to Puerto Rico on the occasion of the visit of his holiness Pope John-Paul II; Honorary President of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, 1986; Heritage Award, Polonia Foundation of Ohio; Man of the Year, Polish Legion of American Veterans, Roosevelt Post #58; Franklin A. Polk "Public Service Merit Award" of the Cuyahoga County Bar Association Foundation, 1996; and a host of others.

Katalin Gulden, Irene Morrow and Francis Rutkowski

Mr. Rutkowski has served his community and his Polish Heritage in a dozen capacities. Most notably in various offices of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America from 1974 to its President, 1986-87; As Judge Advocate of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, Roosevelt Post #58; As General Secretary of the Alliance of Poles of America Division of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America 2002-10; In various capacities of the Polish American Congress - Ohio Division from 2nd VP to National Director; As Secretary/Treasurer of the Alliance of Poles Federal Credit Union; Served as trustee and Treasurer of the Cleveland Society of Poles and of the Polonia Foundation of Ohio, Inc., where he also served as VP; And numerous others organizations.

Francis lives in Westlake with his wife Patricia, they have four grown children, Christine, Joseph, Anne, & Michael and a grandchild, Hannah; and they are members of St. Ladislas Parish where he serves as Eucharistic Minister.