Previous Citizens of the Year
(1975) Dorthea Moore, (1976) Marjorie McClure, (1977) Bill McElhinney, (1978) Cleora McClukin & LeRoy Pierce, (1979) Charles Beck, (1980) Don & Esther Callahan, (1981) Harold & Francis Thomas, (1982) Verne & Nellie Wilson, (1983) Eva May Corey, (1984) George & Mary Ellen Griffith, (1985) John & Millie Caldwell, Jack & Jan Hamilton, (1986) Raymond & Jacine Edwards, (1987) Robert K. Nichols, Sr., (1988) Harold & Nancy McElhinney, (1989) Marguerite Edwards, (1990) Dean & Sue Anderson, (1991) Ernest & Harriet McElhinney, (1992) Dick & Barb Sands, (1993) Joan Delzell, (1994) Verla Blair, (1995) Irene Krieger, (1996) E.K. (Jeep) Hamilton, (1997) Kyle Wilson, (1998) Robert Evans, (1999) Marjorie Carr, (2000) Archie Wolfe, (2001) Doris Harris, (2002) Virginia Wymore, (2003) Howard Hobbs, (2004) Flossie Hamilton, (2005) Lillian Sellers, (2006) Doug & Ann Lee, (2007) Alan Giese, (2008) Geneva Samuels, (2009) Kent & Kirk Delzell, (2010) Dr. Raymond Dill, (2011) Philip Delzell, (2012) Beverly Karagin, (2013) Connie Malone, (2014) Tammy Nelson, (2015) Tom & Sue Bryant, (2016) Fran & Dick McElhinney, (2017) Beth Shenpolk, (2018) Virginia Johnson, (2019) MSFD, (2020) No celebration due to Covid, (2021) Keith & Deb McElhinney, (2022) Bob Buckman, (2023) Gerri Wolfe, (2024) Dana Royer
DANA
ROYER
BOB
NOLAN
AMIE
HERRICK
I would like to nominate Dana Royer for citizen of the year.
Although I no longer live in Morning Sun, I follow the news and activities and am sure no one attends more events and informs more happenings around town than Dana.
I have needed her help many times for postings, etc. in the newspaper and she has always been accessible and easy to reach. Small town newspapers are becoming a thing of the past and we should all be thankful that Dana has kept that from happening in Morning Sun.
Dana also will be celebrating (with me) our 50 year class reunion on the 4th and can't think of a better way to honor her!
Thank you,
Melanie Johnson Kleinhans and the class of 1974
To the Citizens of Morning Sun:
If you have a scrapbook or collection of clippings that includes photos from the Morning Sun News Herald taken since 1979, they were probably taken by the lady we would like to nominate for the 2024 Morning Sun Citizen of the Year.
Dana (Kellogg) Royer has likely been to more school events at Morning Sun, Wapello, Winfield, Columbus Junction, and more community events in those towns (and others) than anyone in the state of Iowa!
She is homegrown, educated in Morning Sun (Kindergarten all the way thru 12th Grade!), raised a family here in Morning Sun that still lives here today and started working a job within 5 years of graduating that could hardly be surpassed in the way she was able to support and promote the community we all love.
In addition to photography, she has volunteered for many other activities. For instance, she is the co-founder of our annual city-wide garage sales!
For her unflagging support of Morning Sun, both personally and professionally, we nominate Dana for Citizen of the Year and encourage you to vote for her for this honor.
The 4th of July Committee, 2024
Voters of Morning Sun,
We would like to nominate our classmate and friend Dana (Kellogg) Royer for the 2024 Citizen of the Year.
Dana was raised in rural Morning Sun and has lived here all her life, including raising her own family here. She went through all 13 years of school at Morning Sun Community Schools.
If you've ever cut out a newspaper photo of your child, grandchild, or friends from the local paper, chances are Dana took that picture. She's traveled to all of the surrounding communities for all types of ball games, car races, community events and more, taking picture after picture of our loved ones and friends for over 40 years. Some might say 'that was her job', but Dana went above and beyond. Including weekends and holidays, even if it meant missing her own family 'get together'. And often traveling at her own expense. Dana would also share her photos with anyone that asked.
She volunteered as a Little League softball coach and served in the concession stand. She was involved in the early years of organizing the Town Wide Garage Sales and still helped with the paperwork and mapping every year until this year. She also donated to numerous Church events over the years. If anyone had an event going on in town, Dana would help organize any articles for the paper and anything else you would need. She would even remind you of your upcoming event if you were behind in submitting the news article (thank you Dana).
Thank you for considering our friend Dana for the 2024 Morning Sun Citizen of the Year.
MSHS Class of 1974
I would like to nominate Bob Nolan for citizen of the year. Bob's life is one of service to the community. Much of his work is with the various Care Centers in this community and others, providing peace of mind and spirit through his music therapy and various activities. He then also volunteers at those same residences, providing Christian support, sharing joy, and giving comfort to those who he interacts with.
Bob attends a local church, and both works and volunteers there as well. His willingness be an Elder, to help lead worship at times, while also serving every week behind the scenes as the technologist shows it is the act of service that is important to him, not the recognition – though I feel we should recognize it through opportunities like this one.
Bob also has served, and continues to serve, the community in a “civil” manner. He is a veteran of the Vietnam war, and an active part of the local VFW and American Legion Post in town. You have almost certainly seen him, because he is one of those who work at the polls every election – whether for the local school board, or for the President of the United States. During the last census he was out there even helping collect the data.
I should note that he still does all this now while in his seventies – he is 76 years young, and still kicking off the covers every morning to get up and find where he can help today. There is much more to tell, and I am certain you have some stories about Bob as well. Show your appreciation of those tales by voting for Bob as “Citizen of the year”. Thank you.
Anonymous.
I would like to nominate Amie Herrick for citizen of the year. Amie is the librarian and in being so she is active with kids, tweens, and adults. She creates craft time for every age and makes sure there is always something going on that includes families or just individuals. Movie night on the lawn, crafts, the angel tree, and so much more. She is member of 4th of July committee, and HOME TOWN PRIDE (which always has things going on for everyone),she is member of Presbyterian Church and is always there for MAMMA LU’S night ( which was created by her mom LU Richenburger). She was a soccer coach for tigers, helps with Fire Department fundraising, and almost any fund raiser in town you can see her smile and caring face among those who do this. She joined 4-H to get the lego club started and she bakes and makes food for anyone who is in need. Amie is also a NOTORY incase anyone might need one. She is definitely the picture of an all around home town girl who takes pride in her community.
Thank you for excepting my nomination. Have a great summer,
Pam Kerr