Malone wins Citizen of the Year award
Stefan Cornibert, Record Staff Writer
Roswell Daily Record

One of Roswell’s good Samaritans, Ron Malone, was honored Wednesday with a Citizen of the Year award from the Roswell Realtor’s Association.Malone is the executive director of the Assurance Home, a shelter for abused or neglected children.

The ceremony was held at the Sally Port Inn and Suites. Lee Kaiser, who works at the Assurance Home, said Malone plays a vital role in helping to shape the lives of young people. He also revealed Malone’s nickname.“Ron ‘Pops’ Malone sees his job as making kids feel better about themselves,” Kaiser said. “Ron is always going to be ‘Pops’ to these individuals. Pops can have a lot of executive things that need to be done but he finds time to make a sandwich for one of the residents or he finds something else to make that kid feel special.”Kaiser added, “The Assurance Home is Ron Malone. I’m sure there is a job description somewhere for his position.

However, I’m also sure it is inadequate for what Ron does.”Martha Murphey, a member of the Assurance Home’s board of directors, said she was proud to have worked with Malone.“Ron is a terrific man, a marvelous, understanding and kind man,” Murphey said. “He and the staff at the Assurance Home have done so much for the kids who come there.”After the ceremony, Malone said he had plans for the award.“It will have a place of honor on the wall of the Assurance home,” he said. “This is kind of unbelievable to me. I’m really honored.”Malone said the key to his work at the home is the way he approaches young people.“If you just treat kids with respect and dignity, kids respond to that,” Malone said. “They know that we’re not out to do anything other than make their lives better.

You can’t fool kids. They know if you’re being honest or not.”Malone described the Assurance Home’s future plans.“We’re going to open a shelter for kids who are in crisis, a temporary shelter,” Malone said. “We’re also fixing to celebrate our 25th anniversary on May 2 and we’re having an open house on May 1. So there’s a lot going on at Assurance Home.”