A Superior woman was honored last week Hoyt E. Dearholt Distinguished Professional Service Award from the American Lung Association.
Pat McKone received the honor June 23 at the annual awards banquet at the O'Hare Hilton in Chicago.
McKone has been with the American Lung Association for 40 years and has played a critical role in many of Minnesota's first smoke-free policies including worksites, housing and foster care.
In January 2016, she was one of a small group of advocates to attend the White House Summit on Housing and Urban Development's proposed smoke-free public housing rule.
"Pat's passion for her work is admirable and has led her to successfully engage and partner with a very broad range of stakeholders," said Penny Fena, chief mission officer for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest. "The outstanding achievements that Pat has accomplished in her career have significantly benefited our communities and will continue to make an impact for generations."
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While she works closely with individual communities throughout the Midwest, she continues to work on statewide legislation in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, and in the trenches in Duluth and across the Arrowhead Region of Northeast Minnesota. Her passion for social justice has been a driving force in much of her work, including advocacy for smoke-free housing and smoking cessation for those with mental health and substance use disorders.
The Hoyt E. Dearholt Distinguished Professional Service Award is the highest honor a staff member can receive from the Lung Association, awarded to a staff member who has made significant and lasting contributions throughout their career.
