Riverbank’s Citizen of the Year Committee has announced its annual awards dinner, scheduled for the end of the month, along with the names of those nominated to receive the honor at the 2017 event.
The committee used to be known as the MOY/COY committee, but was originated as the Man of the Year Award in 1962, when the late Bruce Blakely was selected. By 1967, the late Glenda Alpers won and the name was changed to Man of the Year/Citizen of the Year. The oldest surviving Citizen of the Year is Allen Trawick, who was chosen in 1965.
Once women were being selected for the honor, the committee was dubbed ‘MOY/COY.’ This year, it was truncated to just COY, Citizen of the Year, to make it less of a mouthful, according to Diane Talbert, the reigning citizen of the year, who will emcee the dinner and awards this year.
The 54th Annual Award Dinner, celebrating volunteerism in Riverbank, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St., downtown. Social hour begins at 6 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20, available at City Hall, the Riverbank Historical Museum during open hours, or from any committee member. Tickets will not be available at the door, since arrangements have to be made ahead of time by the caterer.
There are three nominees for the Citizen of the Year honor this year; in alphabetical order – Richard Boos, Lana Clayton and Pastor Elias Cordova. The winner receives a plaque, the title of Citizen of the Year and will serve as Grand Marshall of the annual Riverbank Christmas Parade. The winner will also preside over the COY Committee as chairperson for the following year.
Richard Boos
Richard was nominated for his 13 years of service with Riverbank Christian Food Sharing. “From driving the truck for food pick up to purchasing and picking up other donations, he has served those in need,” the nomination notes of Boos. He is also involved in the Riverbank Cares food distribution.
This past November, he helped decorate the Christian Food Sharing float for the city’s annual Christmas Parade.
Lana Clayton
Lana has always been the “biggest cheerleader for Riverbank,” according to the nomination submission. She helped get Ribbon Cuttings “off the ground” again for the Chamber of Commerce, and sits on several volunteer boards and committees.
She is “always the first one to show up when Riverbank has a function or needs help.”
Elias Cordova
The Pastor is also a postman, delivering in the southwest part of Modesto. He comes in contact with a lot of senior citizens, his nomination noted, whom he has an opportunity to “help in many ways,” sometimes extending his mail route, taking the time to lend them a helping hand.
In addition to regular church services in Riverbank, Pastor Cordova finds the time to work with youth here. He also assists with Love Riverbank and he helped lead efforts this Christmas season to provide 350 hot meals for those in the community.
The 2016 Youth of the Year, YOY, Scholarship will be awarded at the dinner as well, with eight local students being nominated. In alphabetical order, the nominees are: Vanessa Argumedo, Mayra Cabrera, Claire Elizabeth Helm, Emily Rose Helm, Fidel Herrera, Lydia Hodges, Emilio Jimenez, and Dulce Piceno. Next week, look for profiles of the nominated youths in The News.
The Youth of the Year and Citizen of Year are nominated based on their volunteerism and service to the citizens of Riverbank. Nominations focus on the individual’s contributions to the community, highlighting activities aside from job responsibilities, those who have given selflessly of their personal time and talents for the betterment of the public, whether they are known by many or a few.
The Chamber of Commerce will also be presenting its Business of the Year recognition at the dinner.
