Phyllis Troutman attended the Marion County, Ky., Empower Women’s Gala on March 25, 2025, because she thought her friend Judy Bickett was winning an award.

It turned out it was Phyllis who was the surprise honoree as the Empower Woman of the Year, presented by the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.

“I cried and cried,” she said. “I was shocked.”

Two of Phyllis’ greatest loves in life are her town of Raywick and Maple Mount. She was taught by mostly Ursuline Sisters at Raywick School in central Kentucky, and then graduated from Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1963. Other than five years she worked in Louisville and the four years she attended high school at the Academy, Phyllis has spent her entire life in Marion County.

“It’s just home,” she said. “I work and work and take care of Raywick. It means a lot.”

Sister Mary Boniface Speaks was the most influential Sister during Phyllis’ high school days, and Sister Mary Boniface’s niece – Sister Mary Lois – urged Phyllis to become an Ursuline Associate in 1993. Phyllis was a fixture for years helping at Ursuline events, especially the annual picnic, and helped sell raffle tickets to everyone she knew in Marion County – which was just about everyone.

In 2003, the Alumnae Association honored Phyllis with the Maple Leaf Award, given annually to a graduate of the Academy who “personifies the values of their Mount Saint Joseph education in contributions to their local faith communities, civic communities, and/or Mount Saint Joseph.”

When the Ursuline Sisters prepared to celebrate 100 years as an independent community in 2012, it was Phyllis and Sister Mary Lois who spearheaded an effort to honor the centennial of the Ursulines in Marion County. The result was a three-day celebration that concluded with Mass celebrated by the archbishop of Louisville followed by the dedication of a memorial in front of the government office building.

Phyllis suspects her friends Bickett and Jaclyn Swencki were behind her nomination. She has already found a prominent place in her office for her award.

“It’s right under my Maple Leaf award,” she said.

The following is from her nomination for the award:

“From community service volunteer to public figure to business owner, Phyllis Troutman has dedicated her life to making a difference in Marion County and investing in the betterment of the community. A graduate of Raywick School in 1959 and Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1963, Phyllis began her professional career in Marion County working for 18 years at Marion County National Bank. In 1994, she became the owner of what is now known as Clean As A Whistle (car wash), which has been going strong for 31 years and has continuously been voted as one of the Best of Marion County by the community.

“A volunteer on the finance committee at St. Francis Xavier Church for 15 years and Treasurer for the city of Raywick for four years, Phyllis became the mayor of Raywick in 1986 and again in 2018, where she served passionately for 16 years in a volunteer capacity. She was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2000 and the Maple Leaf Award in 2003, and graduated from the Leadership Lebanon class of 1990. Throughout the years, she has volunteered for the Dream Factory, Boy Scouts, Mount Saint Joseph Picnic and Christmas party, St. Francis Xavier Church Spring Fling Festival, Raywick Community Park, Bourbon Festival, and Ham Days.

“While accolades are impressive, it’s Phyllis’ heart and dedication to Marion County and business owners and leaders that solidify her as a premier candidate for Woman of the Year. She is a champion for other businesses and is one of the first to offer a ‘welcome to town’ or congratulations. Phyllis invests in the successes of others, is a cheerleader and encourager to all whom she encounters, and has a passion for mentoring and building up young women who come to Marion County for prominent positions in our community. Their accomplishments are her celebrations, and she takes great pride in seeing other women succeed in their goals and dreams. Phyllis is the epitome of ‘women empowering women.’

“She may be small in stature, but she is one mighty woman, whose legacy will resonate in Marion County for decades to come.”