Citizens of the Year

The “Citizen of the Year” award started in the late 1950s by the young men of the Miamisburg Junior Chamber of Commerce—similar to the Jaycees, members had to drop out at age 35. The Junior Chamber wanted to recognize members of the public who displayed a record of community service. Residents submitted nominations and the members made the final decision.

The award was given at a banquet held at local restaurants such as Midway Lodge, the Peerless Mill, the Round Table, or Alex’s. It was a big deal, very well attended and featuring a top-notch speaker, for example, the legendary Woody Hayes. Local artist Les Spicer painted a portrait of the winner and gave it to the community. The Citizen of the Year portraits hung in the Market Square building (before the Historical Society met there) and in the Carnegie Library.

The club began admitting female members in the 1990s but sadly the organization folded in 2000.