At a breakfast honoring distinguished alumni of Columbia High School, Vickie Anspach relayed a quote by basketball coach and player Steve Nash: "I believe that the measure of a person's life is the effect they have on others." Those words truly sum up the influence of this year's honorees, noted Anspach, the secretary of the Columbia Education Foundation.

The foundation recognized Keith Lutz and Ronald Mable at the breakfast, presenting them each with a plaque to take home and one that will be displayed in the lobby at the high school.

A 1991 graduate of Columbia High School, Lutz was a member of the basketball team. He earned a bachelor's degree from York College and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1992 to 1998. Since 1993, he has been employed by Kleen-Rite Corp., where he currently serves as owner and vice president. During his time with the company, he has helped it grow from 15 to more than 150 employees and from one location in Columbia to four distribution centers across the country. In his community, Lutz serves as president of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, an organization he co-founded in 2005. He is a board member of the Columbia Healthcare Foundation, Columbia Animal Shelter and Harold and Judy McKonly Family Foundation. He is also an active member of the Sunsnappers, Elks, Lions and Convene. The father of six, he will celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife, Angela, this coming year.

"Like many people in this room, I'm a proud Columbian," Lutz said, accepting the award. "We all know there's only two kinds of people: those from Columbia and those who wish they were."

He told the crowd how he found the inspiration for his thank-you speech from one word on a plaque on his mantle: thankful. "It's so simple, but so important," he said. "I am thankful that God has blessed me with so many opportunities in my life. Rarely do we take the time to just pause and be thankful."

Mable graduated from Columbia High School in 1953, participating in football, wrestling and track and field while in school and becoming district champion in shotput. With a background in education, he began teaching at Columbia Borough School District as a special education and science teacher and also served as assistant football coach, assistant wrestling coach, head track coach and athletic director. He then taught at Lancaster Township School District and the School District of Lancaster, where he served as assistant principal and principal before retiring in 1992.

He is a member of the Columbia Education Foundation, the Columbia Lions Club, the Elks, the Sports Car Club of York, Urban League of Lancaster County and helps with the upkeep of Mount Bethel Cemetery. Married to Barbara for 64 years, he has two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

At 87 years old, Mable said he wanted his speech to focus on people who have influenced his life. "I would like to run down the list of people who have made me who I am today," he noted, mentioning his mom and dad. "I have so many people to thank for giving me possibilities."

Since 2008, the Columbia Education Foundation has recognized 20 distinguished alumni. The organization provides support and resources for the teachers and staff of Columbia Borough School District, including funding for books, technology, grants and scholarships. For more information, visit http://www.columbiaef.org.