Nomination Application
Suffolk’s First Citizen is awarded to an outstanding individual who best exemplifies the spirit of citizenship and who has shown significant leadership through his/her time, talents and efforts in order to make Suffolk a better place to live.
The Suffolk Rotary Club and the North Suffolk Rotary Club are accepting nominations for Suffolk’s First Citizen. Nominations must be submitted by:
Filling out the form at www.firstcitizensuffolk.com by Saturday, July 19, 2025 OR
Downloading this form, fill out completely, and postmarked by Monday, July 19, 2025 to:
Suffolk Rotary Club
C/O First Citizen
P.O. Box 1972
Suffolk, VA 23439-1972
Nominees MUST be a resident of the City of Suffolk. Attach letters of endorsements to the application.
The reception honoring the recipient will be Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 6:00 pm. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.
Past First Citizen Recipients
Suffolk First Citizen past recipients include
2024 - Mike Duman
2023 - Mac & Sandra Birdsong
2022 - Harry Lee Cross III
2019 - L.D. Britt, MD MPH
2018 - Karla Smith
2017 - John Harrell
2016 - Lydia Duke
2015 - Billy Chorey Sr.
2014 - Robert W. "Bobby" Harrell, Jr.
2013 - Dr. R. Leroy Howell, Sr.
2012 - M. Caroline Martin
2011 - The Honorable Fred Quayle
2010 - Dr. Douglas C. Naismith
2009 - The Honorable Chris Jones
2008 - Betsy Brothers
2007 - W. Ross Boone
2006 - Whitney Godwin Saunders
2005 - The Honorable Curtis R. Milteer, Sr.
2004 - Susan F. Woodward
2003 - The Honorable E. Dana Dickens III
1998 - Durrell V. Mills
1997 - Jack W. Nurney, Jr.
1996 - George Y. Birdsong
1995 - Al and Georgia Saunders
1994 - J. Samuel Glasscock
1993 - Rev. Melvin R. Boone
1992 - Robert E. Gillette
1991 - Dr. Philip R. Thomas
1990 - Sanford B. Chapman
1989 - Oliver K. Hobbs
1988 - William J. Spain, Jr.
1987 - Dr. George H. Barnett
1986 - William E. Ashley
1985 - Joseph H. Barlow
1984 - Howard D. Mast
1983 - Dr. Margarite W. Reid
1982 - The Honorable Andrew B. Damiani
1981 - S. B. “Bert” Hazelwood
1980 - Arthur E. Jones
1979 - Edwin C. Ferguson, Jr.
1978 - Ted J. LoCascio
1977 - Robert H. Williams
1976 - Robert W. Hundley
1975 - Laura H. Elmore
1974 - William F. Davis
1973 - Dr. Robert B. Marr
1972 - James F. Hope
1971 - James E. Amers
1970 - Muscoe Garnett
1969 - Major T. Benton
1968 - C. M. Flintoff
1967 - Dr. Murray Kantor
1966 - W. G. Saunders, Jr
1965 - Hunter M. Haynes
1964 - Dr. Edward C. Joyner
1963 - Richard M. Williams
1962 - William R. Savage
1961 - Vernon G. Eberwine
1960 - W. P. Griffin
1959 - Mills E. Godwin, Jr.
1958 - Henry M. Pinner
1957 - T. H. Birdsong, Jr.
1956 - R. L. Woodward, Jr.