OFF PAGE ONE
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Chamber
continued from a1
Even on her walks, Par-
sons said, Wilkerson picks
up cans and bottles and
returns them for deposit.
And Wilkerson never
wanted recognition for
herself.
In accepting the award,
Wilkerson said she was
embarrassed.
“It’s just unbelievable
that I could receive this,” she
said. “I feel so honored to
be with all of you that have
been honored before.”
Man of the Year
Banker, consultant and
diehard Oregon State Uni-
versity Beavers fan Steve
Williams received the award
for Man of the Year.
Presenter Josh Burns said
he wanted to share what Wil-
liams has been involved with.
As an example, Burns
said, when he and his family
moved from Hermiston to
Baker City, he had to resign
from nine boards.
Williams has been a
Cub Scout leader, a coach
for AAU basketball, Little
League and the swim team.
He’s served as a chamber
ambassador, on the Hermis-
ton Development Corpora-
tion, Blue Mountain Com-
munity College Finance
Committee and the Umatilla
Electric Cooperative’s Busi-
ness Resource Center.
“He’s dedicated to our
city,” Burns said.
And starting this July,
he will be the District
5100 governor for Rotary
International, guiding 74
Rotary clubs in Oregon and
Washington.
“This man is different,”
Burns said. “He’s different
because every opportunity
that he has and committees
to serve, he puts 100% of
himself into.”
Burns said Williams lives
his life by Rotary’s Four-
Way Test; Is it the truth? Is
it fair to all concerned? Will
it build goodwill and better
friendships? Will it be bene-
ficial to all concerned?
“And I can tell you if he’s
involved, it is and it will,”
Burns said.
In accepting the award,
Williams described Herm-
iston as a magnet, and it is
because of the people in the
community.
“Because of the people
sitting out here, the people
who live here, people who
work here and people who
raise their families here. …
It is a great community.”
The Award of Merit
Christmas
Express
received the Award of Merit.
Hermiston Mayor Dave
Drotzmann presented the
Award of Merit to Christmas
Express, describing the pro-
gram as “Hermiston’s finest
hour.”
The Hermiston Police
Department runs the all-vol-
unteer program, now in its
53rd year, that provides gifts
to children and full holiday
dinners at Christmas time
to more than 500 less fortu-
nate families in the Hermis-
ton area.
Hermiston Police Chief
Jason Edmiston accepted the
award.
“This isn’t a police
department event,” Edmis-
ton said. “This is a Hermis-
ton event.”
There are countless peo-
ple who donate money to the
program each year, he said,
and hundreds of locals are
involved.
“We gladly accept this
award, and we will continue
with the program,” Edmis-
ton said.
Other awards
The Midway Bar & Grill
received the Bob Severson
Rotary Business of the Year
Award.
Elizabeth
Doherty
received the Altrusa Out-
standing Young Citizen
Award.
Tricia Mooney, Hermis-
ton School District superin-
tendent, announced the edu-
cators of the year:
Brianna Gilman, special
educator teacher, Hermiston
High School.
Ethan McDonald, social
studies teacher, Hermiston
High School.
Kirby Warner, physical
education teacher, Armand
Larive Middle School.
Megan Reeve, math
teacher, Sandstone Middle
School.
Tanya Kennedy, dean
of students, Desert View
Elementary.
Angie Cooke, fourth
grade teacher, Highland
Hills Elementary.
Ibbet Radant, instruc-
tional coach, Rocky Heights
Elementary.
Susan Frink, instructional
coach, Sunset Elementary.
Brenda Caldwell, instruc-
tional coach, West Park
Elementary.
Tricia DesJarlais, special
education facilitator, Herm-
iston School District.
And the Hermiston
School District Administra-
tor of the Year Award went
to Katie Saul, director of
business services.
herMIsTOnheraLd.cOM • A9
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald
Ben Lonergan/Hermiston Herald
Stuart Rice, owner of the Midway Bar & Grill, accepts the
Bob Severson Rotary Business of the Year Award on March
2, 2022, at the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce’s 52nd
Annual Distinguished Citizens Awards at the Hermiston
Community Center.
Elizabeth Doherty smiles on stage March 2, 2022, after
receiving the Outstanding Young Citizen of the Year
Award at the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce’s 52nd
Annual Distinguished Citizens Awards at the Hermiston
Community Center.
Chamber of
Commerce
PO Box 1 • 101 Olson Rd. • Boardman, OR 97818 • 541-481-3014
www.boardmanchamber.org • email: info@boardmanchamber.org
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