Mason Dixon's 2026 Distinguished Citizen Dinner

The Mason Dixon District of the Shenandoah Area Council of Scouting America proudly announces Tom Riford as the 2026 Distinguished Citizen Award Honorees for the Mason Dixon District.

Tom Riford stands as one of Maryland's most accomplished community advocates, business leaders, and public servants. A decorated Marine Corps veteran and Cornell University alumnus, Mr. Riford currently serves as the Vice President of Rider Jet Center and its affiliated enterprises in Hagerstown, Maryland-a leadership role he assumed in 2024 following decades of distinguished executive leadership in both the public and private sectors.

Before joining Rider Jet Center, Mr. Riford served at the highest levels of Maryland state government. Appointed in March 2019 by Governor Larry Hogan as Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, he oversaw the Division of Tourism, Film, and the Arts as well as the Department of Marketing and Communications. In this role, he also served as Executive Director of the Maryland Marketing Partnership, spearheading strategic initiatives to elevate the state's economic footprint. His trusted leadership bridged political administrations, continuing under Governor Wes Moore until September 2023. In 2021, he was appointed to the Maryland Semiquincentennial Commission ("Maryland 250"), helping chart the statewide commemoration of our nation's founding.

For over a decade, he served as President and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, where his strategic vision drove historic increases in regional visitation and spending, culminating in 2012 and 2013 when Washington County led the entire state in tourism growth metrics. His earlier career includes serving as Marketing Director for the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission, Director of Marketing for Associated Engineering Sciences, Vice President of Homewood Retirement Centers, and President of the $40-million Homewood Foundation, earning repeated honors from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. A gifted communicator and published historian, Mr. Riford also spent decades as a prominent broadcast news anchor and reporter-predominantly with WJEJ in Hagerstown-and was recognized nationally as the 1989 CBS Radio News Affiliate Reporter of the Year in his state.

Co-founder and Treasurer of the Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown, Secretary of the Maryland Film Industry Coalition, and board member for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown Aviation Museum, National Road Museum, John Brown Farm, Thomas Kennedy Center, and the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations.

Treasurer of Breast Cancer Awareness, Inc., President of the Miss Washington County/Miss Western Maryland Scholarship Foundation, Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce, and an active committee member for regional heritage efforts, including the Antietam Memorial Illumination, the Mercersburg Halloween Parade, and memorial sculpture projects honoring George Washington and Clara Barton.

A former professional ski racer and examiner for the Professional Ski Instructors of America (Eastern Division) who continues to instruct on winter weekends, a 1994 world-record holder for vertical feet skied in four hours, and a former gridiron player for Australia's Gold Coast Stingrays.

Event Marquee Sponsor $10,000

Up to 16 Guests (Two Tables), Custom Event Banner, Logo on all Event Materials, Full Page in Program,           Socia Media Recognition

Honorary Eagle Scout $5,000
Up to 8 Guests (One Table), Custom Event Banner, Logo on all Event Materials, Full Page in Program, Social Media Recognition

Honorary Life Scout $3,000
Up to 6 Guests, Inclusion on Event Signage, Half-Page in Program, Social Media Recognition

Honorary Star Scout $1,500
Up to 4 Guests, Inclusion on Event Signage, Half-Page in Program

Honorary First Class Scout $750
Up to 4 Guests, Quarter Page in Program

Honorary Tenderfoot Scout $500
2 Guests, Quarter Page in Program

Honorary Cub Scout $250

2 Guests, Recognition in Program Listing

Table Sponsor $1,000

8 Guests

Individual Seat $150

1 Guest