Since 1988 The Journal Gazette newspaper has selected a Citizen of the Year. See Past Citizens of the Year Dec 31, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. See our Journal Gazette section.
2023: Kathy Callen, head of the Doermer Family Trust.
December 30, 2023 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
Journal Gazette Citizen of the Year Kathy Callen is head of the Doermer Family Trust. For more than 30 years Callen has raised money for and lent her support to institutions throughout her hometown.
Read more about Callen and her work in the Fort Wayne community: Citizen of the Year: Kathy Callen
2022: Zachary Benedict, MKM architect with a vision for the city. Citizen of the Year: Zachary Benedict Janaury 1, 2023 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
January 1, 2023 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
Zachary Benedict is The Journal Gazette's Citizen of the Year for 2022. The Editorial Board says he is a community leader who sees the importance of creating a sense of belonging and inclusivity. His life intersects vocation, spirit, family, and fidelity toward the concept of The Greater Good.
Read more of what the Editorial Board and members of the community have to say about him: Citizen of the Year: Zachary Benedict
2021: Nancy Stewart, Susan Mendenhall, arts community influencers. Nancy Stewart, Susan Mendenhall Editorial Board Dec 26, 2021 Updated Jun 3, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
December 26, 2021 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
Editorial: For the efforts they’ve made in supporting local artists, in making art accessible to all and in positioning Fort Wayne as an arts destination, The Journal Gazette has named Nancy Stewart, chair of the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission, and Susan Mendenhall, president of Arts United, as our Citizens of the Year. Read more: Nancy Stewart, Susan Mendenhall
2020: Mindy Waldron, Allen County Health Department administrator. Mindy Waldron CITIZEN OF THE YEAR Dec 27, 2020 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
December 27, 2020 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
For her steadfast leadership and careful management of important resources to combat the pandemic, the editorial board has named Mindy Waldron as The Journal Gazette's Citizen of the Year. Allen County Department of Health
2019: Pastor Javier Mondragon, Bridge of Grace community development organization. Javier Mondragon Dec 29, 2019 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
December 29, 2019 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
Editorial: Citizen of the year: Pastor Javier Mondragon is one of many people working to make southeast Fort Wayne a better place to live. Many Nations Church of the Nazarene
2018: Patti Hays, Marilyn Moran-Townsend, Rachel Tobin-Smith and Faith Van Gilder, founders of Advancing Voices of Women. The founders of AVOW Patti Hays, Marilyn Moran-Townsend, Rachel Tobin-Smith, Faith Van Gilder Dec 30, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
2017: Dr. Deborah McMahan, Fort Wayne-Allen County health commissioner. Dr. Deborah McMahan Dec 31, 2017 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. See our section on Dr. Deborah McMahan.
December 31, 2017 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
For her continuing leadership in the opioid crisis, her eloquent advocacy on behalf of children and her ceaseless crusade to get others to share her vision of a healthier Fort Wayne, Dr. Deborah McMahan is The Journal Gazette's Citizen of the Year. Dr. Deborah McMahan
2016: Dan Wire, advocate for the rivers. Dan Wire December 31, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. See our section on Dan Wire.
2015: Chuck Surack, founder and president of Sweetwater. Chuck Surack December 27, 2015 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. See our Chuck Surack section.
2014: FWCS Superintendent Wendy Robinson and Board President Mark GiaQuinta. The Journal Gazette Citizens of the Year published December 28, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. See Wendy Robinson section.
2013: Michael Packnett, president and CEO of Parkview Health System. See Michael Packnett section.
December 29, 2013 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:
Parkview Regional Medical Center’s President and CEO Michael Packnett is Citizen of the Year.
“We asked him to describe his leadership style and he responded that he viewed himself as a servant leader.”
2012: Irene Walters, executive director of university relations at IPFW, community volunteer. See Irene Walters section.
2011: Larry Wardlaw, chairman of Fort Wayne Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, community volunteer. See Larry Wardlaw section.
2010: Meg Distler, executive director of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, and Minn Myint Nan Tin, executive director of the Burmese Advocacy Center
2009: Lynn Reecer, co-founder and president of Aboite New Trails
2008: Jane Avery, executive director of Community Harvest Food Bank. See our Jane Avery section.
2007: Jeff Krull, director of the Allen County Public Library. See our Jeff Krull section.
2006: Hana Stith, founder and curator of the African/African-American Museum. See Hana Stith section.
2005: John Stafford, director of the Community Research Institute at IPFW
2004: Shirley Woods, founder of the Euell A. Wilson Center
2003: Donald Andorfer, Sister Elise Kriss, university presidents; Chancellor Mike Wartell
2002: Judges Fran Gull, Steve Sims and John Surbeck, court reform activists
2001: Jim Kelley, philanthropist
2000: Rosetta Moses Hill, education activist
1999: Father Tom O’Connor, founder, St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen
1998: Phil, Joann, Matt, Glen and Ryan Nixon, activists for bike trails, traffic safety
1997: Jane Novak, mental health advocate
1996: Ternae Jordan, Stop the Madness founder
1995: Ian Rolland, Lincoln National CEO, community activist. See our Ian Rolland section.
1994: Irene Walters, Mike Hawfield and Patty Martone, Fort Wayne bicentennial organizers
1993: Jane and Tom Dustin, environmentalists. See our Dustin section.
1992: Joyce Schlatter, Fort Wayne Community Foundation specialist
1991: Don Wolf, founder of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection
1990: Brenda Robinson, director of Old Fort YMCA
1989: Dr. David Porter, child abuse prevention specialist/advocate
1988: Paul Clarke, philanthropist and founder of Fort Wayne Community Foundation