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And the nominees are, from left, Annie Hinojos, Spencer Bryce and Carol Lewis.
The 2015 Copper Basin Citizen of the Year will be revealed Monday, Feb. 29, during the Chamber’s annual dinner.
This year’s dinner and award ceremony will be held at West End Café and reservations can still be made. But hurry as today (Wednesday) is the last day to RSVP. Call the Chamber office for more information.
Three nomination letters were received this year and the recipient is selected by a committee of past COYs. Nominated are Spencer Bryce, Anita (Annie) Hinojos and Carol Lewis.
Spencer Bryce is from Kearny and according to the nomination letter has a great, kind personality. “He always tries to make friends with anyone who might feel kind of out of place and may just need a friend…he is always ready to help out the elderly. They will call him and he will do whatever they need and is laughing and smiling all the while he does the job.”
The letter went on to say, “I have seen him do so much hard yard work for his Grandma and never one complaint. You can just check out her yard and see some of the results of his hard work. I’ve seen him use his own money and with the help of his Grandpa design and buy a special gift for his Mom.”
In closing the letter stated, “I want him to know that all he does has not gone unnoticed and I feel he is a great example and inspiration to all of us of how we should treat others and be happier in all we try to do. “
Anita Hinojos is a Winkelman resident and her nomination letter opened with the following, “This may be somewhat overdue, and I know it will not come close to including all she is involved in and what she has done for the Copper Basin Tri-Community, but I will give it a try.”
The letter went on to state that she gives more than her time to the communities. Her caring and giving goes beyond something that can be measured in hours and minutes. She gives her talent, her knowledge and her heart.
“Her passion for the well being of the Senior Citizen in our communities is her mission. She works endlessly to keep and gain partnerships with towns, cities, counties to maintain the resources for the tri-community,” the letter stated.
Some of the things she is involved in include 22 years of service at the Town of Winkelman, two as mayor and eight as vice mayor. Thirty-four years as the Town of Hayden Senior Citizen Director and chairman of the Meals on Wheels Program.
She also caters for special events in the community including the monthly Jr. Chamber monthly meetings.
She has served for 10 years as the Gila Community Wellness Director, has attended the CAG meetings for 20 plus years, has 34 years of service with Gila-Pinal Council and 26 years as Chairman for the Community Action Program.
“And the list goes on,” according to the nomination. “Annie gives more time in a week than many do in a lifetime and should be recognized and honored with the 2015 Citizen of the Year award. What would we do without her?”
Carol Lewis lives in Kearny and according to her nomination letter, she not only loves this town and its residents, but does a lot to benefit everyone.
After retiring from D.E.S, she continues helping others understand options they might have when dealing with the agency, the letter explained.
She has helped the ROTC with time and donations and serves as a V.I.P. with the police department. “She can always be seen during parades and during the fire last June was out in the heavy smoke keeping resident from harm or keeping them from re-entering a dangerous burn area,” the letter stated. She is also a volunteer with the local food bank and veggie deliveries and serves on the Leadership Team at Church of the Good Shepherd.
But mostly, the nomination said, she deserves to be Citizen of the Year because she is willing to help anyone who needs help, even when it is just driving people to the valley or to Tucson for appointments.
The letter also stated that Carol will stand up for those that can’t and will do what is best for Kearny and all its citizens.
Vicki started her career in the journalism field while attending Ray High School in Kearny with an excellent teacher who took her by the hand and guided her. She worked on the school newspaper and as a senior was a co-editor. Her dream was to go on to college to study journalism and eventually to travel the world reporting the news. This dream was interrupted by life circumstances. She stayed in Kearny and went to work for the Copper Basin News in 1964 as a typesetter. Her editor was Ira Q. Toler and he also was a good teacher. After marrying and having children, her desires to again work in the newspaper field surfaced. She responded to an ad for a position in advertising for the Copper Basin News which included selling, lay-out and design. She was hired on the spot. The business has greatly changed with technology and the introduction of desktop publishing. She was fortunate enough to be a part of it. She has now worked for Copper Area News Publishers on and off for over 30 years, starting when John Seater was the publisher. She has held many positions over the years, but is most proud to be named a reporter. She loves to write and is so grateful for being given that chance.
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