Citizen of the Year Main Page

Announcement of the Neibys as Citizens of the Year

Prior Honorees as Citizen of the Year

Dr. Paul Neiby and Wife Louise Honored as 2009 Citizen(s) of the Year by Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce - Friday, Jan. 29, 2010  

Bean Town Coffee Club video tribute to Paul and Louise Neiby

The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce honored, for the first time, two people as its Citizen(s) of the Year at its annual Citizen of the Year/Board Installation dinner on Friday.  The late Dr. Paul Neiby and his wife Louise were chosen to receive the Chamber's 2009 Citizen(s) of the Year award.  On Dec. 22nd, Chamber president Matt Krantz presented the couple with a bouquet of flowers as the announcement was made by Susan Henderson, a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and president of Sierra Madre Kiwanis. 

The dinner was held in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita Park.  About one hundred guests turned out to remember Paul, who passed away Jan. 13th, and to honor Louise, who described the evening as "bittersweet." 

The evening began with a cocktail hour featuring entertainment by the Mercy Powell (jazz) Quartet.  After a brief welcome by 2007 Citizen of the Year Pete Siberell, in his 17^th year at Santa Anita and Director of Community Service & Special Projects for the L. A. Turf Club, Chamber President Krantz handed the evening’s emceeing duties over to Susan Henderson.  It was the Kiwanis Club which nominated the Neibys for Citizen of the Year.  Henderson introduced Vince Johnson, who had been requested by the Neibys to perform at the event.  Johnson performed several tunes on piano while guests had the opportunity to peruse half a dozen items available at the silent auction table.  This was the first time the Chamber has employed a silent auction at the Citizen of the Year dinner, and based on the success of this first one, it likely will become a new annual activity.

Reverend Dick Anderson gave the invocation, and the guests sat down to a delicious three-course dinner of Mediterranean Salad, Smoked Mozzarella Capicola Chicken, and Northwestern Seasonal Fruit Tart. 

Following dinner, Henderson introduced a long list of honored guests, including nearly a dozen former Citizens of the Year.

Mistress of Ceremonies Susan Henderson and Chamber President Matt Krantz

Henderson then introduced a video prepared for the event in which friends of the Neibys discussed their contributions at length.  The video began with a congratulatory message from fellow Kiwanian and 1998 Citizen of the Year, Judy Webb-Martin.  The bulk of the video consisted of members of a group that called themselves "The Bean Town Coffee Club."   The “club” met regularly to discuss local happenings, and in the video they were, fittingly, having coffee and reminiscing about their old friend.  Newcomer to the club Jesse Campo said “I think Sierra Madre  is gonna miss him a lot.  He was a real good man.” Gordon Caldwell noted that “He always had a great big smile, you couldn’t miss that smile.” Paul Duncan spoke of meeting Dr. Neiby after an accident which had fractured five of his ribs, and drew laughs when remembering the time he went to visit Paul in the hospital and, hearing that he couldn’t visit unless he was a relative, informed the staff that Paul, who was about the same age if not younger, was his grandfather.  Gary Hood discussed the Neibys contributions to the town’s CERT program and their latest cause, the Sierra Madre AM radio station for emergencies.  George Maurer recalled that Neiby “…fought a gallant battle to keep Orange Grove the way it is today.  He was very passionate with every project he undertook, he followed it to completion.”  Maurer also recalled one of his last conversations with the doctor, in which he was told “It’s important that you not rest on your laurels…”  Joe Pergola, echoing Maurer’s comments stated that “One of the things I’ve learned from Paul is - you start a job, you finish a job,” adding that the honor being given to Louise and Paul is “most deserved.”  Bud Switzer reminisced about Neiby’s contributions to Pioneer Days and the Veterans Photo Wall, and an obviously emotional Jay Whitcraft talked about working with Dr. Neiby on the Library Board of Trustees, the Oral History Project, and the town archives.  He added that “I loved him a lot, it’s very hard to talk about, he was a very good guy…He was always there for me…and Joy (Phillips, Whitcraft’s partner for many years) all during the time I was taking care of her…very supportive and a very determined man.”

Following the video, guest speakers Pat Birdsall (who met the Neibys through Kiwanis), and author Michelle Zack spoke.  Birdsall drew some laughs when she recounted a story in which a staff member at a hospital asked how it worked having a doctor and a nurse in the same household, to which former nurse Louise responded that it worked much the same as in the hospital, with the doctor giving the orders, and the nurse carrying them out.  Zack, whose book "Southern California Story: Seeking the Better Life in Sierra Madre" was recently published by the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society and was a pet project of the Neibys, lauded the Neibys for their focus and drive in making the book a reality.

State Senator Bob Huff and Louise Neiby

Then the couple received proclamations/certificates from the Chamber, the City of Sierra Madre, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors (Michael Antonovich), a joint proclamation by Assemblyman Anthony Adams and State Senator Bob Huff (who was on hand to make the presentation personally), and Congressman David Dreier. 

Council Member Joe Mosca, Louise Neiby and Council Member John Buchanan

The City presentations were made by Council members John Buchanan and Joe Mosca.  Congressman Dreier's representative Mark Harmsen was there early in the evening, but had several other events to attend and so Krantz presented Mrs. Neiby with Congressman Dreier's proclamation, as well as Supervisor Antonovich's and the Chamber's.

A very moved Louise Neiby then spoke very briefly thanking everyone for coming and for the honor, and the evening drew to a close. 

For more extensive coverage, including many more photos, click here.

Thank you to our Sponsors for the
Citizen of the Year 2009 and Board of Directors 2010 Installation Dinner, January 29, 2010