POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — This past Sunday the Moose Lodge held its annual Moose of the Year awards ceremony.

According to a press release sent on behalf of Point Pleasant Moose Lodge #731, there were several nominations this year for the award and a vote was held by the general membership. With what was described as a “close to unanimous” vote, for the third time in nearly 20 years, “Bingo” Ray Armantrout was recognized for the honor.

“Moose bingo re-started over six years ago,” stated the press release. “Previously, this was a well-attended event at our old Moose lodge and they (Ray and John McDermitt) were searching for something to support the current lodge. After the first three years of building things back up, they added bingo to our new lodge.”

Bingo was then expanded to the public, via the Point Pleasant Moose Lodge’s popular charity bingo events. These charity events have provided thousands of dollars which go back into the community.

According to the press release, in the past five years, since adding charity bingo, the Point Pleasant Moose Lodge has raised, and given back to “our community” $154,708. For the first six months of this year, that total already stands at $35,487.

“Thank you, Ray, John, and the many others who supported them in this endeavor,” stated the press release. “Ray will proudly tell you much money was raised from each event all recorded in his bingo notebook.”

The press release also stated “month in and month out,” Armantrout is always faithfully developing the monthly calendar, which includes not only games, but providing free food on Sundays.

“There is one thing that is always constant at our lodge and that would be our Ray,” the press release added.

The press release concluded with: “Congratulations to one of our lifetime members (50 years), Ray Armantrout, Moose of the Year 2022-23. Come join us next Tuesday as Bingo Ray and the Moose lodge welcomes Mason County 4-H.”

Information for this story provided by a press release submitted by Dave Morgan on behalf of Moose Lodge #731. Follow the lodge and stay updated on its events via its Facebook page linked here https://www.facebook.com/mooselodge731.

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