Richard Tobin Benevolence Awards
Each year, Catholic Order of Foresters’ top 20 agents earn Richard Tobin Benevolence Awards. These awards, established in 2006, are made possible through Catholic Order of Foresters’ Welfare and Relief Fund. The late High Chief Ranger Richard Tobin created this fund to allocate money for fraternal good. Each agent who earns a Richard Tobin Benevolence Award chooses a Catholic organization to receive the $500 donation – schools, religious groups, pro-life causes and more from around the country have been named as recipients. To date, $143,500 has been donated to local and/or Catholic organizations as a result of these awards.
AWARDED IN 2026
Anthony Owens
Agent Anthony Owens of Nebraska donated to St. Bonaventure Elementary School in Columbus.
Antonio Alvarado
Agent Antonio Alvarado of Illinois, right, donated to the Feast Committee at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Melrose Park.
Brian Marketon
General Agent Brian Marketon of Minnesota, pictured here with the Rev. Matthew Wiering, donated half the proceeds from his award to Holy Trinity School in Winsted.
Brian Marketon
General Agent Brian Marketon of Minnesota donated half the proceeds from his award to St. Maximilian Kolbe Academy in Delano.
Jim Pappas
Agent Jim Pappas of Indiana donated to St. Patrick Catholic Community’s Table of Plenty and St. Patrick’s funeral luncheon coordinators in Chesterton.
Larry Feldt
Agent Larry Feldt of Minnesota donated to St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic School in Long Prairie.
Peter Nelson
General Agent Peter Nelson of Tennessee (not pictured) donated to The Society of Saint Pius X in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rich Oligmueller
General Agent Rich Oligmueller of Nebraska, center right, donated to the St. Mary Catholic Church cemetery fund in Remsen, Iowa.
Roger Klein
Agent Roger Klein of Wisconsin, right, donated to the Holy Family Catholic School endowment fund in Arcadia.
Tom Kaelin
General Agent Tom Kaelin of Kentucky donated to the Saint John Institute in Englewood, Colorado.
Please note, not every winner is listed above. General Agents and Agents John Behn, Roger Bockweg, Paul Engler, Raul Fernandez, Kelly Mauer, Tyson Owens, Rob Quatkemeyer, Young Tran, and Shannon Wartman were also given Richard Tobin Awards in 2026!