Citizen of the Year

Congratulations to Mrs. Cathy Sanderson!

2021 Citizen of the Year

Each year the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to honor and recognize an outstanding member of the community who makes a difference in Lawrence County in their day-to-day lives.

The Citizen of the Year Award is more than just a title, an annual thing we do, or another routine award given to the most popular person in town. This award recognizes the epidemy of a great citizen. Eli Praiser was once quoted, "to be a good citizen it’s important to be able to put yourself in other people’s shoes and see the big picture. If everything you see is rooted in your own identity, that becomes difficult or impossible.” 

This is who we are looking for! Someone who puts others first for the betterment of themselves, their community, and county. A standout citizen – selfless, resilient, and servant focused. This award is a statement of pride and gratefulness to those special individuals who make all of ours easier to live, more enjoyable and memorable for years to come. A nominee should be a living resident of Lawrence County who has consistently demonstrated excellence in a professional leadership role within the community, made or is making significant contributions to the welfare of the community, and has given freely of their time, energy and resources to contribute to positive growth, stability and the overall betterment of the community.

Nominations for Citizen of the Year are generally accepted during a certain period of time in January and forms may be picked up at the Lawrence County Chamber Office. These nominations are taken very seriously and we take pride in celebrating our Citizen of the Year. The Citizen of the year serves as a representative of Lawrence County and also has the honor of being the Grand Marshal in the annual Christmas Parade. The Lawrence County Citizen of the Year is honored at the Chamber’s annual year-end banquet, which is usually held somewhere near the end of January and early February each year.

It is quoted, "We have this day and the rest of our lives, however long that may be, to make a difference, change our behavior, take action, and do the things we’ve always dreamed of." by Scott Allan, Do It Scared. This has to be our mantra, our creed, our daily purpose. We ask you, our community, to honor that special individual who has made a difference in many lives, taken action when needed, and helped bring many dreams into reality.