AUBURN – Dick Gleason rarely passes up the chance to promote community service. So when the media executive was awarded the Achievement in Business award from his alma mater earlier this month, he passed along this message to the audience:

“I hope you’ll soon realize that it’s not the money that’s important, but family and community,” he said to the University of Maine business students and professors in the audience. “When you graduate, I hope you’ll join Kiwanis, the Rotary, local boards, and if you go to church, join a committee – don’t just sit there.”

“I was surprised by the comments afterward,” Gleason said Monday. “People really welcomed them.”

Gleason, who graduated from UMaine’s business school in 1969 and then received a master’s from the same school in 1970, has been a member of the Maine Business School Advisory Board for the last three years. He is president and owner of Gleason Media Services in Auburn.

The award is given annually to recognize professional achievement, leadership, service to UMaine and its business school, community service and lifelong learning.

John Mahon, dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Health and director of the Maine Business School, said that Gleason is an “unabashed supporter of the Maine Business School and has served with distinction on the advisory board.”

“He has provided his advice and counsel to a variety of nonprofits throughout the state and they have also been enriched by his participation in their activities,” said Mahon in a prepared statement. “He truly embodies the term ‘servant leadership’ and has lived a life of service to the citizens of Maine.”

In 1975, Gleason purchased an FM radio station in Norway, now known as WOXO-FM, and in 1985 he revived a defunct AM station now known as WEZR at 1240 AM. Gleason currently owns and operates three other radio stations within 40 miles of Lewiston-Auburn.

He has served on boards and committees including the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, the Boys & Girls Club of Auburn-Lewiston, University of Southern Maine Corporate Partners, the Auburn Business Association, Healthy Androscoggin, Business Advisory Board for Congressman Michael Michaud, Advisory Committee for Central Maine Community College, Auburn City Council (2006-2007), United Methodist Church of Auburn, Taylor Pond Yacht Club and March of Dimes.

He currently serves on the boards of The Chapman House assisted living facility, the Maine Business School at the University of Maine, Central Maine Community College and The Alliance for Maine’s Future. He serves as a corporator for Auburn Public Library, Boys & Girls Club of Auburn-Lewiston, and Mechanics Savings Bank.

Gleason said the university helped him develop his business acumen, but his experience in the Army ROTC really honed his leadership skills. Together, his entire college experience prepared him well for his career.

“This award has extra meaning to me because I’m a third generation graduate of Maine,” he said. “To be recognized by my alma mater is especially wonderful.”

Gleason has received other recognitions including the Maine Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcaster of the Year, the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award, Business Cornerstone Award from the Maine Senate, Kiwanis International’s Legion of Honor, the Ray Geiger Award from the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce and, earlier this month, citizen of the year from the Auburn Business Association.