The honor of “Citizen of the Year” was started in 1970 during the Harvest Festival, which was the predecessor to the Basket Festival. Over the years, the title changed a few times. It started as "Outstanding Citizen" in 1970. There are several years in our history where a citizen was not shoe, we did not hold a festival, or the name of the winner is missing. As our research continues, please help us to fill in the gaps!
A special thank you goes to committee member and Berlin Heights Historical President Andy Keller for the compilation and verification of our current record.
Berlin Heights Festival Recipients for (a.) “Citizen of the Year” or (b.) “Special Citizen” or (c.)
“Outstanding Citizen” or (d.) “Man of the Year” or (e.) “Honorary Citizen of the Year”
Prepared by Andy Kellar
1. (c.) 1970 Harvest Festival – Dr. Byron P. “Doc” Merrick
2. (c.) 1971 Harvest Festival – Arthur “Art” Buchwald
3. (a.) 1972 Harvest Festival – Harold “Ike” Bellamy
4. (a.) 1973 Harvest Festival – Forrest F. Hinman
5. 1974 Harvest Festival - ?
6. 1975 Harvest Festival - ?
7. (d.) 1976 Harvest Festival – Francis ‘Lefty’ O’Donnell
8. (a.) 1977 Basket Festival – Mrs. Arthur (Lorraine) Buchwald
9. (a.) 1978 Basket Festival – Gertrude Nottke
10. 1979 No Festival, No Citizen of the Year
11. 1980 No Festival, No Citizen of the Year
12. 1981 No Festival, No Citizen of the Year
13. 1982 No Festival, No Citizen of the Year
14. 1983 No Festival, No Citizen of the Year
15. 1984 No Festival, No Citizen of the Year
16. 1985 Basket Festival, No Citizen of the Year
17. 1986 Basket Festival, No Citizen of the Year
18. 1987 Basket Festival, No Citizen of the Year
19. 1988 Basket Festival, No Citizen of the Year
20. 1989 Basket Festival, No Citizen of the Year
21. (a.) 1990 Basket Festival - Francis “Lefty” O’Donnel
22. (b.) 1991 Basket Festival – Chuck Cleavenger
23. (b.) 1992 Basket Festival – Joyce Barnicle
24. (b.) 1993 Basket Festival – Gladys Schatz
25. (b.) 1994 Basket Festival – Florence Shultz
26. (a.) 1995 Basket Festival – Don & Ethel Lois Smith (co Citizens of the Year)
27. (b.) 1996 Basket Festival – Kurt Hansen
28. (b.) 1997 Basket Festival – Margaret Phillips
29. (b.) 1998 Basket Festival – Jim Vartorella
30. (a.) 1999 Basket Festival – Mike Amstutz
31. (a.) 2000 Basket Festival – Arthur “Art” Buchwald
32. (a.) 2001 Basket Festival – Dan Van Benschoten
33. (a.) 2002 Basket Festival – William J. “Bill” Daniels
34. (a.) 2003 Basket Festival - ?
35. (a.) 2004 Basket Festival – Elsie Kelble
36. (a.) 2005 Basket Festival - ?
37. (a.) 2006 Basket Festival – Mary Vartorella
38. (a.) 2007 Basket Festival – Irvin Schatz
39. (a.) 2008 Basket Festival - ?
40. (a.) 2009 Basket Festival - ?
41. (a.) 2010 Basket Festival – Glenn Bernhardt
42. (a.) 2011 Basket Festival – Kelly Moon
43. (a.) 2012 Basket Festival – Randy Foster
44. (a.) 2013 Basket Festival – Berlin Heights Garden Club
45. (a.) 2014 Basket Festival – David Moon
46. (a.) 2015 Basket Festival – Kenny Wiley
47. (a.) 2016 Basket Festival – Ameila “Amy” Bliss
48. (a.) 2017 Basket Festival – John Hartman
49. (a.) 2018 Basket Festival – Bill Werner
50. (a.) 2019 Basket Festival – Joe Burnham
51. (a.) 2020 Basket Festival, No Festival due to Covid-19 – Lisa Tittle (chosen and honored in 2021)
52. (a.) 2021 Basket Festival – The Lowry Family: Jim, Pie, Becky, Terri and Amy (First year a family won the award)
53. (e.) 2021 Basket Festival - Honorary Citizen of the Year – Thomas R. Hinman (First year we had an Honorary recipient)
54. (a.) 2022 Basket Festival – Linda Moon