Allamuchy Township resident Kenneth Dunlop, a long-time volunteer in his community, was named the 2025 Mary Louise Christine Outstanding Senior Citizen of Warren County.

Warren County Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski and Commissioners Lori Ciesla and James R. Kern III presented the award at the annual luncheon that caps Older Americans Month, which this year has theme “Flip the Script on Aging.”

The Commissioners recognized this year’s six nominees – Dunlap; Cathy Bao Bean of Blairstown; Richard Cornely of Harmony; Stanley Garrison of Phillipsburg; Suzanne Henshaw of Stewartsville; and Rene Mathez of Columbia – before announcing Dunlap’s section for the award by a committee comprised of past honorees.

The award has been given since 1984 but was renamed in 2007 to honor Mary Louise Christine shortly before the 85-year-old community activist from Washington Township passed away. The Warren County Division of Aging and Disabilities Advisory Council conducts a search and identifies older adults who characterizes the true spirit of the award. Nominations are accepted in the Spring each year.

All three County Commissioners pointed to the important role seniors play in the county by volunteering with many organizations, committees and projects.

But Dunlap noted the while senior citizens are active with volunteer work, there is a need “to encourage younger people to volunteer. You know, they say life begins after retirement, but life also goes on before retirement. We need to get people involved more.”

Dunlap continued, “We’re facing some pretty challenging times, and we need the talent and the vigor of younger people, and women, particularly.”

Dunlap, who was nominated by six people, has volunteered with many organizations over the past 35 years, including in the Panther Valley community where he has served on the Panther Valley Board of Trustees as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, a member of the Audit and Communications Committees, and a contributing writer for the Panther Magazine. 

Dunlap was an original member of Friends of Rutherford Hall and the Rutherford Hall Foundation, and currently is Treasurer for the organization. He also has been Treasurer of the Allamuchy Senior Citizens Club for the past 12 years.

Additionally, Dunlap has shared his knowledge of microbiology with the Allamuchy Municipal Water & Sewer Utility Advisory Commission, has served as liaison between Allamuchy Township and the Panther Valley Property Owners Association, and between the Hackettstown Historical Society and Rutherford Hall. A volunteer with the Democratic Party, he has helped encourage Phillipsburg residents to vote. Dunlap also is a Eucharistic minister at the Saints Peter & Paul Church in Great Meadows, where he was one of the founding members of the Knights of Columbus Council; and was a volunteer for the Northeast Branch of the Warren County Library, moving books and various materials to the new location.