Dennis (Dink) and Mary Lea Dutton are connected. They’re connected to each other, they’re connected to the land, they’re connected to their community, and they’re connected to Washington County. But most important, they are connected to other people.
Their roots are so Washington County.
“I’m a sixth-generation dairy farmer from West Alexander,” says Mary Lea. “We bought the family farm from my great-great grandfather. There was no running water.”
“I grew up in Taylorstown; my father was a steelworker,” says her husband, Dennis. “At that time few people had money, and we didn’t know we didn’t have any.”
After they both graduated from McGuffey, Dennis excelled at the business that is all about connections—insurance. He was an agent, an owner, and eventually partnered in wealth management.
They have both been an integral part of their community.
Mary Lea’s family has been involved with the West Alex Fair for generations. She and another teacher came up with Got Ag?, a program that uses the Fair to teach second-grade curriculum—life cycles, taking care of animals, weights and measures.
“We organized nine learning stations,” she explains. “Eventually students in the FFA (Future Farmers of America) took over teaching the stations. Now, twenty years later, they organize all of it.”
Dennis became involved with the Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) in its early days.
“I was part of 1st class of Leadership Washington County,” he explains. “The WCCF board wanted someone from that class. Me.”
Dennis served as a trustee, learning about funds and foundations.
When a beloved educator passed away, teachers wanted to honor her, and Mary Lea helped with the Alice Boone Main Memorial Fund, which supplies and maintains musical instruments for the McGuffey band.
They were instrumental in suggesting another fund, the Buckholt Science Scholarship Fund, created with money from vending machines at McGuffey High.
But it is the Chuckie Mahoney Foundation that touches Dennis’ heart. When a friend’s son died tragically, Dennis helped start a foundation providing scholarships and advocacy for suicide prevention. Dennis has served on that board for the past two decades. “That cause is very close to us.”
But the biggest inspiration for their philanthropy came about in a more personal way: Dennis’ cancer treatments. After seeing how much extended chemo and stem cell transplants cost, he knew he had to give back.
“I can tell you if it wasn’t for my caregiver Mary Lea, I probably couldn’t have gotten thru it. What a journey the two of us walked.” He served on the board of the Washington Hospital Foundation and gave generously.
It was Washington County legend Chuck Keller who influenced him to donate publicly.
“I wanted to donate anonymously,” Dennis admitted. “Chuck scolded me. ‘Don’t do that! I know you don’t want the recognition, but you need to model for others.’ That stuck with me, Chuck’s legacy.”
The Washington County Community Foundation has named Dennis and Mary Lea Dutton the 2025 recipients of the Northrop Family Excellence Award for Community Philanthropy. Their lives are a tapestry woven with threads from church, fair, work, school, and friendship.
Among their friends, Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi: “I have known Dink & Mary Lea Dutton my whole life. They don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk. I am proud to call them friends and neighbors.”
How do they get things done? Connections.
“You ask people, people ask you,” Dennis says.
“My Dad and Mom always just did. Everything—volunteerism, working or doing.” Mary Lea shares. “That’s just the way we grew up.”
“We model it more than anything else,” Dennis shares. “It’s that great feeling you get which drives volunteering and community connections.”