Chamber taking 'Citizen of the Year' nominations

Who has had the most impact on the city of El Campo this year and throughout their lifetime?

What can you point at and say 'this is here because of a single person's effort'?

Who deserves to be honored by the community?

Those are the questions the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture are asking the community to consider as they begin accepting nominations for the Citizen of the Year as well as the Achiever of the Year.

The Citizen of the Year award is an honor bestowed upon an individual who has spent the better part of their lifetime - not a single shining moment - working for the benefit of the community.

Honorees are typically older and must be engaged in, or once worked with, at least three community activities in fields other then their primary profession.

They must have resided in the county no less than five years and must be living at the time of consideration.

And, of course, the biggest question of all must be answered - how did they have a "profound effect upon economic, cultural or civic welfare" in El Campo?

Last year's honoree was Rita Radley, a long time civic volunteer.

The deadline for nominations for Citizen of the Year is Friday, Nov. 9, Chamber Secretary Rebecca Nunez said.

Those nominations can be delivered to 201 E. Jackson or mailed to the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, P.O. Box 1400, El Campo, Texas, 77437.

"There are probably numerous people in El Campo who have given back in many ways, who have made this a better community for all of us," Chamber President Becca Socha said, adding she hopes people will take the time to really think about those who have had an impact on the town.

Nominating letter should be clear and concise, Socha added, saying bullet points are fine and letters should preferably be a page or less in length.

The Chamber is also accepting nominations for the Achiever of the Year - an honor for a single event or effort which has made a difference in the last calendar year (2007 in this case).

Former El Campo Assistant City Manager Mindi Snyder was the first recipient of the award which was created for the January 2006 Chamber banquet.

The Junior League World Series winning El Campo boys were honored last year.

The achiever award allows the efforts of a single year to be recognized, Socha said, adding it was well received last year.

Living recipients of the Citizen award include: Leslie Collins, Joyce Henderson, A.G. "Red" Miller, Russell Raun, Irvin Foytik, Melvin Parker Jr., Allen Collins, John Corbett, Ann Leach, Cecil Davis, Martha Johnson, Frankie Novak, Jerry Aulds, Joe Tom Davis, Bob Melanson and Rita Radley.

Past recipients, now deceased, include Cortez Allen, Harold Bishkin, Verda Boyle, Donald Duson, Richard Meek, Mary Baca, John E. Kainer, Blossom Meyer, Naomi Chappell, Dr. E.A. Weinheimer, Verner Petersen, Rev. Lloyd Nixon, Jim Tuttle, Bob Meisel, Tom Henderson, H.D. Madsen, Hazel Montgomery, Kitty Simank, Wilbur Swanson, John L. Russell, Viola Webb, Evelyn Kainer, Norris Raun, Mary Meyers Rosenfield, Lucian Kainer, Dr. Walter Presley and Fred Barbee.