Citizen of the Year Awards honor individuals who have made exceptional and sustained contributions for the betterment of our community as a whole. Named each year by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and honored at the Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet, these honorees possess outstanding personal characteristics, including honesty, sincerity, integrity and benevolence.

Citizen of the Year
2023    Dr. Steve Westbrook
2022    Fire Chief Keith Kiplinger view video
2021    Alton Frailey
2019    Jim Jeffers view award acceptance video
2018    Judy A. Abbott, Ph.D. view award acceptance video
2017    Barbara and Richard DeWitt view award acceptance video
2016    Charlotte and Gary Lee Ashcraft view award acceptance video
2015    Grace Handler view award acceptance video
2014    Ed Pool view award acceptance video
2013    Dr. Roger Van Horn view award acceptance video
2012    Sgt. Greg Sowell
2011    Drs. Baker and Janice Pattillo view award acceptance video
2010    Dr. Archie McDonald view award acceptance video
2009    Dr. Patsy Hallman view award acceptance video
2008    Dr. Frances E. Abernethy view award acceptance video
2007    Margie Tipton view award acceptance video
2006    Roy Blake, Jr. view award acceptance video
2005    Bryant Krenek view award acceptance video
2004    Tom and Peggy Wright view award acceptance video
2003    Sheriff Thomas Kerss and Judge Sue Kennedy view award acceptance video
2002    Dr. Leon Hallman
2001    Norman Johnson
2000    Robin Dawley
1999    Dottie Mallory 
1998    Steve Whitbeck, Holly Musick and Scott Ingalls 
1997    Sammie Russell
1996    Nancy Speck Mangham
1995    Judy McDonald
1994    Mike Aikin
1993    Joe Max Green, Ed Cole and A.T. Mast
1992    Betty Shinn
1991    C.L. Simon
1990    Bob Murphey
1989    Sydney Abegg
1988    Jarvis Ammons
1987    Roy Blake, Sr.
1986    Ed and Gwen Cole
1985    Joyce Swearingen
1984    A.L. Mangham
1983    Mack Stripling
1982    Victor Fain
1981    Bruce Bates
1980    Jim Alders and M.C. Roebuck
1979    Dr. Ralph Steen

The Lifetime Achievement Award is so special that it is not giving annually - only when an individual's cumulative community contributions really add up to major movements. 

Lifetime Achievement Award
2023    Dr. Robert Lehmann
2022    Bill Elliott
2021    Mike Perry
2019    Betty Shinn