The Park City Rotary Club, one of the area’s leading supporters of community causes, has named its citizens of the year for 2015. Kim McClelland, Director of Lodging for Deer Valley Resort, was awarded the Jack C. Green Volunteer Citizen of the Year. Longtime KPCW news director Leslie Thatcher was honored with the Linda Singer-Berrett Professional Citizen of the Year. Both McClelland and Thatcher will ride in the Monday, Sept. 5 Miners’ Day parade as grand marshals.

The Park City Rotary Club presents each award annual to community citizens who have distinguished themselves through their volunteerism and outreach to benefit the Park City community.

“Our Park City Rotary Club is proud of the work we do in our community,” said Club President Jenni Smith. “But we are aided by remarkable individuals outside our club, like Kim McClelland and Leslie Thatcher, who make giving back to the community a part of their daily life.”

McClelland has worked in the Park City lodging community since 1978. In addition to his professional role as one of the resort town’s lodging leaders, he has been an active volunteer leader in the community with myriad organizations since moving to Park City. McClelland has served as a board member on the Park City Chamber/Bureau, was one of the founding members of what is now Basin Recreation, Park City  Lodging Association, Utah Office of Tourism, People’s Health Clinic and Park City Jazz Foundation. He played a pivotal role earlier this year in the launch of the Thin Air Park City innovation festival.

Thatcher has been an integral part of the KPCW Radio team for nearly three decades. She is known as a strong news reporter on Park City issues, but also a welcoming voice for local non-profits and other community leaders to tel their story on her highly-rated morning news show as well as a personal commitment to the positive growth of Park City. For years she has been the morning wake-up call for Park City, adept at bringing Parkites their morning weather, snow reports, news and more – becoming the sound of Park City in the pre-dawn hours every weekday.

The Jack C. Green Volunteer Citizen of the Year award is named after the former Park City mayor from 1978-86 who was instrumental in rallying community volunteerism during the community’s formative years as a destination resort. The Linda Singer-Berrett Professional Citizen of the Year Award is named in honor of Park City Rotary’s first female president who was a strong community leader in her role as a teacher and school principal before her passing in 2000.

“It’s an honor for our Rotary Club to recognize these great citizens in our community each year who really represent the history of our town,” said club member Bob Richer, who oversees the selection. “Kim and Leslie follow in a long line of community leaders and advocates who have helped shape the future of our community.”

The Park City Rotary Club, which began in 1980. started its citizen of the year awards program in 1981, adding the professional category in 1993. The list of past recipients is a veritable who’s who of individuals who have made a vital difference to the quality of life in the Park City community.

The Linda Singer-Barrett Professional Citizen of the Year Award was introduced by Linda’s husband, Dean, who said, “If Linda were to come back she would ask, ‘is Rotary still doing the same great things? Is the club still making a difference? Are we a part of global issues?” he said. “I think she would be pleased to see what we’re still doing.”

Park City Editor Nan Chalat-Noaker introduced Thatcher talking about her friend and fellow newsperson. “One of the greatest assets a community can have is a friendly antagonist,” said Chalat-Noaker. “She’s committed to making Park City and Summit County a better place to live.”

Thatcher, meanwhile, talked about the joy her career has brought her since being plucked out of an administrative job by Park City’s Bill Coleman to work at Park City Television in its early days before moving to radio. “What’s my passion,” asked Thatcher. “I do the news – that’s what I love. Every day I wake up wondering what’s going to happen today.” She is the third KPCW on-air talent to win a Rotary Citizen of the Year Award after Rick Brough and Randy Barton.

Richer spoke about Jack Green as a pioneer who shepherded Park City in its formative year, noting the long history of the award and how each and every recipient had played a role, including McClelland. “Look at each of the many organizations Kim has been involved with and how much each of them changed during his tenure,” said Deer Valley President Bob Wheaton. “He brings those qualities every day.”

“When I look back at the former recipients, they have all had such a great impact on our community,” said McClelland. “I was selfish. I only wanted to do it if I could have fun and do it with people I like. Every day is special here in Park City – this one especially so.”

McClelland closed with his own top 10 list of giving back in Park City, talking about friendships, working together as a community, random acts of kindness and Rotary. “I learned about public service from my time here in Rotary,” he said. “This club is about helping people.

The Park City Rotary Club, which was named Utah Rotary Club of the Year in 2014, is a community service organization comprised of community and business leaders who engage in activities to give back to Park City and the global community. Founded in 1980, the club has around 100 members and is a part of Rotary International. Among its many activities is the management of Park City’s annual Miners’ Day festival every Labor Day. The club organizes a wide range of annual fundraisers benefiting local causes and international outreach programs, granting over $1 million since its inception.

PARK CITY ROTARY CLUB CITIZENS OF THE YEAR

PAST RECIPIENTS

Jack C. Green Volunteer Citizen of the Year

2015 – Kim McClelland

2014 – Glenn Artist

2013 – Bruce Erickson

2012 – Mo Hickey

2011 – Joel Fine

2010 – Mary and Charlie Wintzer

2009 – Lynn Fey and Sydney Reed

2008 – JoAnn Krajeski

2007 – Val Chin

2006 – KPCW Radio Volunteer DJs

2005 – Summit County Sheriff Search and Rescue

2004 – William Brown

2003 – Toni Gannon and Tom Heffron

2002 – Sarah Jones

2001 – Arlene and Lew Fine

2000 – Lani Furr

1999 – Dana Williams

1998 – Linda Meyers

1997 – Shelley Weiss

1996 – Debbie Reid

1995 – Summit County Friends of Animals

1994 – Dixie Geisdorf

1993 – Evelyn Richards

1992 – Park City Ambassadors

1991 – Lou Hudson

1990 – Jack Dozier

1989 – Bob Marsh

1988 – Meeche White

1987 – Bob Wells

1986 – Nan McPolin

1985 – Ann MacQuoid

1984 – Jack Green

1983 – Tina Lewis

1982 – Emergency Medical Technicians

1981 – Bea Kummer

 

Linda Singer-Berrett Profesional Citizen of the Year

2015 – Leslie Thatcher, KPCW

2014 – Colin Hilton, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation

2013 – Mike Leurs, Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District

2012 – Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski, Holy Cross Ministeries

2011 – Randy Barton, Egyptian Theater

2010 – Scott Loomis, Mountainlands Community Housing2009 – Not awarded

2008 – Candy Erickson, Park City leader

2007 – Lloyd Evans, Park City Police

2006 – Nora Shepard, Summit County Community Development

2005 – Hal Smith, Park City High School

2004 – Rob Slettom, Identity Properties

2003 – Julie Wilson, Deer Valley Resort

2002 – Bonnie Park, Snyderville Basin Rec

2001 – Michael Shepherd, Park City High School Footbal

2000 – Bob Wheaton, Deer Valley Resort

1999 – Troy Duffin, Mountain Trails

1998 – Ron Ivie, Park City Municipal

1997 – Stein Eriksen, Deer Valley Resort

1996 – Mary Morrison, Recycle Utah

1995 – Rick Brough, KPCW

1994 – Tom Cammermeyer, Norwegian School

1993 – Nick Badami, Park City Ski Area