The Lawrence Kiwanis Club on Thursday honored Dr. Paul H. Getto and Rusty Thomas with its Substantial Citizen Award.

The late Dr. E.R. Ebel originated the award in 1960 to recognize people who contribute to the Lawrence community. Since that time, 76 people have been honored.

Getto, a dentist, moved to Lawrence in 1949. He is a member of the Douglas County Dental Society, the Kansas Dental Society and the American Dental Assn.

He has been involved with several community organizations, including the Lawrence Rotary Club, Douglas County Senior Services, Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

Getto volunteers once a week at the Lawrence Visitor Center and Lawrence Memorial Hospital. In 2000, he received the Sertoma Club’s Service to Mankind Award. He and his wife, Winnie, have two sons and a daughter.

Rusty Thomas and her husband, Jim, owned State Radiator in Lawrence for 20 years. Since 1997 she has owned an insurance business.

Thomas has been an active member of the Lawrence Kiwanis Club since 1988 and has served in several leadership positions.

She is active in the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and was named the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year in 2000.

Thomas also is involved with the American Heart Assn., the United Way, Ballard Center board, ARC board and Beta Sigma Phi social sorority. She is president of the Lawrence Women’s Network and a member of the League of Women Voters.

The awards were presented at a noon luncheon at Lawrence Country Club.