Nominations are now open for Citizen of the Year!
Every year the Greater Manchester Chamber holds an event to honor a Citizen of the Year. This is a tradition that began in 1954 and continues today. The date of our next Citizen of the Year Celebration is TBD!
The Citizen of the Year award recognizes an individual with outstanding leadership and citizenship in the community, while demonstrating exemplary vision, civic pride and commitment to the betterment of society.
Nomination Criteria
The individual should live in the greater Manchester area, and/or his/her activities should be centered in this area. Recognition will be given for leadership and performance in several areas of community service over a period of years. The individual recognized does not have to be a member of the Greater Manchester Chamber or the business community. It may be an individual from any walk of life, and there are no requirements or restrictions relating to gender, race, religion or ethnic background.
Nomination Procedures and Rules
Complete this form and attach it as the cover page to accompany letters of explanation and recommendation. If a candidate is not selected this year, the nomination will be automatically resubmitted next year. All nominations will be kept confidential. The award will not be given posthumously. No seated elected official will qualify as Citizen of the Year.
Since 1954 the Greater Manchester Chamber has presented one outstanding individual the Citizen of the Year Award. This group has been paramount in shaping the Chamber’s agenda and the greater Manchester community.
Click here to nominate a COY!We are Proud to Honor our Past Citizens of the Year
1954 - 1969
1954: William F. McElroy, Industrialist
1955: Med M. Chandler, Hills Dept. Store
1956: Mary G. Manning
1957: Dr. Robert B. Kerr
1958: Avery R. Schiller, Public Service Co. of New Hampshire
1959: Maxwell E. Duckoff, Salvage Shoe
1960: William S. Green, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green
1961: Rosco A. Ammon, Ammon Terminal
1962: Josaphate T. Benoit, Mayor
1963: Joseph H. Geisel, Saint Anselm College
1964: Adelaide Dodge, Retired Teacher
1965: Irwin W. Davis, YMCA
1966: Walter S. Little, Industrialist
1967: Thomas H. Buckley, Public Service of New Hampshire
1968: Francis P. McGranaghan, Chief of Police
1969: Victoria Y. Estfan
1970 - 1989
1970: J. Fred French, Banker
1971: Owen Johnson, Businessman
1972: Alfred L. Sicotte, Trucking Magnate
1973: John G. Drayton, Consultant
1974: Robert P. Burroughs, Burroughs Corporation
1975: Laurent Chalifour, Businessman
1976: John McLane, Jr., McLane,Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A.
1977: John J. Reilly, Jr., Reilly Electric
1978: Ralph A. McIninch, Banker
1979: Dr. Sylvio Dupuis, Mayor
1980: Raymond Closson, Public Service of New Hampshire
1981: Frederick W. Griffin, Griffin Insurance
1982: John J. Coleman, New England Telephone
1983: Howard Keegan, Amoskeag Bank
1984: Kimon S. Zachos, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green
1985: Monsignor Phillip Kenney, Clergy
1986: Ralph E. Jensen, Numerica Financial Corp.
1987: Selma R. Deitch, MD, Child Health Services
1988: Raymond F. Truncellito, Truncellito & Davis
1989: Herbert Stebbins, Stebbins Association
1990 - 2009
1990: Mary Mongan, NH Dept. of Health & Human Services
1991: Raymond G. Cote, Harvey Construction
1992: Patrick Duffy, NYNEX
1993: Beverly L. Arel, Moore Center Services
1994: Jack Middleton, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A.
1995: Sister Carol Descoteaux, Notre Dame College
1996: William E. Marvin, Manpower of Manchester
1997: William T. Frain, Jr., Public Service of New Hampshire
1998: Frederick B. Kfoury, Jr., Central Paper Products, Inc.
1999: Raymond J. Wieczorek, Mayor
2000: Elias “Skip ” E. Ashooh, Elias E. Ashooh, Inc.
2001: Bradford E. Cook, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, PA
2002: Dr. Eugene Lariviere, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester
2003: Dr. Richard Gustafson, Southern NH University
2003: J. Michael Hickey, Verizon
2004: Claira P. Monier, NH Housing & Finance Authority
2005: Robert A. Baines, Mayor
2006: Barry Brensinger, Lavallee Brensinger Architects
2007: Richard I. Winneg, W S I Industries
2008: Brian Tremblay, Boys and Girls Club of Manchester
2009: Dick Anagnost, Anagnost Investments
2010 - 2019
2010: No Citizen of the Year – Centennial Celebration
2011: Stephen Singer, Merchants Automotive Group
2012: Joseph B. Reilly, Centrix Bank
2013: Arthur Sullivan, Brady-Sullivan Properties
2014: Ellie Cochran, The NH Charitable Foundation
2015: Andy Crews, AutoFair
2016: Dianne Mercier, People’s United Bank
2017: Maureen Beauregard, Families in Transition – New Horizons
2018: Michael L’Ecuyer, Bellwether Community Credit Union
2019: Peter Ramsey, The Palace Theatres