Past Recipients: 2010-2023

This year’s Tri-Citian of the Year is Mark Brault, Chief Executive Officer of Grace Clinic, who received the award on May 3 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. Each year, the award goes to someone who demonstrates exceptional community service.

Grace Clinic is the second largest free clinic in Washington. It provides health care to those without insurance in Benton and Franklin counties. According to the event chair, Brault led the clinic’s transition from a volunteer space to a stand-alone clinic that provides dental and mental health care on top of basic medical care. He also coordinated with local hospitals to get medical residents at the clinic, keeping it open longer. He’s credited with raising approximately $600,000 each year through the clinic.

“Mark has served the community for the past 45 years helping organizations and people in ways not often visible,” said his nomination. “His vision and leadership have made a major contribution to the well-being of our community’s population, especially those at the bottom of the economic ladder.”

Brault is a retired certified public accountant with countless community affiliations. Just some of the organizations he’s been a part of are the Columbia Basin Non-Profit Association, Tri-City Union Gospel Mission, United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties board, Columbia Industries board, Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance board, the Two Rivers Health District of the Kennewick Public Hospital District and even more.

“Mark’s skills include compassion, innovation and creativity in making suggestions and improving operations,” said one of Brault’s nominators. “He is analytical in his quest to understand community and organization problems and develop solutions, personable in interactions with others, and calm in the approach to issues and discussions.”

Brault and his wife also host family dinner each week, serving 39 family members. He is also treasurer on the finance committee for Hillspring Church, where Christmas gifts are provided for local prisoners each year.

Wendy Culverwell,
May 2, 2019, Tri-City Herald

Dave Retter knows a good idea when he hears one.

And that’s what happened over breakfast with friends in 2015.

The Tri-City real estate executive was with friends, including Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg, when the conversation turned to a novel idea out of San Diego.

An officer had created a fund to help people after he reached into his own pocket to buy lunch for a hungry child.

Like teachers, cops often spend their own money to help people in crisis. A lunch for a hungry kid and then a pair of shoes for a traumatized child can add up. And big needs are beyond the means of most cops.

Retter, Hohenberg and their friends thought it sounded like something that could — and should — happen in Kennewick.

Retter turned to his network of business buddies and raised $13,000. With that, the Kennewick Police Foundation launched the Kennewick Police Community Cares Fund.

Police officers now have access to credit cards to pay for minor expenses to help out people in need.

The fund takes on big challenges too, like replacing a broken down vehicle for a family that needed reliable transportation for a disabled child, contributing to a funeral, covering car repair bills or paying for a homeless man to stay in a hotel for a few nights.

It has since expanded to neighboring police departments thanks in part to Retter’s continuing support and personal contributions.

It’s one of the countless ways Retter, president and owner of Retter & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty, has supported the community, say his supporters.

For his wide-ranging philanthropic efforts, Retter was named Tri-Citian of the Year, the community’s top civic honor, at a banquet Thursday night at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

The award is jointly presented by Rotary International and Kiwanis International to the Mid-Columbian who best exemplifies service above self.

Not surprisingly, Retter was nominated by Chief Hohenberg, the 2009 Tri-Citian of the Year.

Volunteering for Tri-Cities Agencies

Hohenberg estimates Retter’s personal philanthropy has topped more than $1 million.

But it’s the personal touch that helps the most, he wrote.

Catholic Family Services, Elijah House, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton & Franklin County, Hospice, Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery and others have benefited from Retter’s generosity, Hohenberg said.

“It is obvious that he contributes his personal time and energy as well as financial support to improve our community,” Hohenberg wrote.

Retter is a well-known Tri-City real estate executive.

He formed the business that would become Windermere Tri-Cities with partner Harold Thompson in October 1992.

The firm would grow to dominate the residential market. In 2016, Retter affiliated with Sotheby’s International, saying the global brand would better serve a growing, prospering community.

He has supported the Community Action Committee’s efforts to provide a day care center for homeless families to help them start over.

He was a hands-on supporter of the effort to complete the Cooper Larson baseball field at the Kennewick American Youth Baseball, lending a hand at car washes and other events in addition to donating money.

In 2014, during his company’s annual spring day of service, agents reported to the ball fields to power wash the facility, repairing facilities and the landscape.

Tri-City Herald, May 3, 2018
by: Wendy Culverwell

It would have been understandable if the 2018 Tri-Citian of the Year missed his own awards ceremony Thursday.

Don Pratt, entrepreneur, volunteer and philanthropist, is a very busy Tri-Citian, who, by tradition, didn’t know he was the guest of honor.

For his vast and varied contributions to the community, Pratt received the Mid-Columbia’s top civic honor at a banquet headlined by U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

Mattis, a Richland native, also is speaking Saturday at a sold-out event at Columbia Basin College. His remarks Thursday night came too late for press time, but visit the Tri-City Herald or the Herald’s Facebook page for more about his comments.

Pratt does that in spades, according to Linda Moran, who nominated him.

“I have been brought to tears when speaking to individuals who have been the recipients of his compassion and benevolence. To the point that I am ashamed at not having nominated him long ago,” Moran wrote.

The Tri-Citian of the Year is a closely guarded secret until the winner is revealed at the banquet.

This year’s event at Three Rivers Convention Center was no different. Twenty-five of Pratt’s nearest and dearest relations waited excitedly in a private room until the big reveal before the sold-out crowd of nearly 900.

Pratt, 65, graduated from Kennewick High School in 1971 and runs a prominent business, Don Pratt Construction, a commercial and residential building firm. In his “spare” time, he keeps enough civic commitments to put mere mortals to shame.

Moran described Pratt as a servant leader, humanitarian, teacher, philanthropist and role model who has contributed to many causes through his association with Kennewick’s Sunrise Rotary.

He joined the service organization in the late 90s after attending a gathering to pitch Project IRIS, which equipped local fire stations with thermal imaging equipment. The connection fueled decades of involvement in a variety of Rotary projects.

He is a tireless cheerleader for its Mid-Columbia Duck Race and accompanied fellow Rotarians on medical missions to Ethiopia, where he supported surgeons treating cataract patients. He has assembled and installed children’s playground equipment in Richland parks and helped create the hiking trails on Badger Mountain.

The See3Slam Basketball tournament benefits from his organizational help — so do the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, Tri-Tech Skills Center, United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery, Habitat for Humanity and his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In 2009, he took on a rare, high-profile effort when he heard the story of Ronny Coleman, the athletic director of Kennewick High School, who was paralyzed by an illness. Pratt and his team arranged to build a ramp at Coleman’s house.

Pratt regularly carves out a day each week to deliver meals to the elderly for Meals on Wheels. The partnership began when a Meals on Wheels representative shared the organization’s mission with his Rotary club. The visitor mentioned that there was an unserved area because of the distance. Pratt told him to “consider it done,” making it a regular part of his week.

Moran also said Pratt coordinated the Home Builders Association’s annual “Blitz Build” for Habitat for Humanity. At the dedication, organizers wanted to recognize him for the week he’d spent working on the house. But Pratt was busy helping at another house, avoiding the limelight.

“While Don may try to blend in with the crowd and go unnoticed, his actions and service to the community certainly cause him to stand out,” Moran wrote.

Tri-Citian of the Year couldn’t dodge the limelight any longer

By the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board
May 06, 2018 05:07 AM
Kennewick, WA

Former Tri-Citian of the Year dies on Badger Mountain hike

By Cameron Probert
April 9, 2020
Richland, WA

Philanthropist, businessman and former Tri-Citian of the Year Don Pratt died while hiking Badger Mountain on Tuesday.

Pratt was talking his daily hike when he reportedly started having trouble breathing at 6:25 a.m.

Benton County Fire District 1 and Richland medics raced to the scene and called in an air ambulance to help.

The Life Flight helicopter made a rare and highly visible landing on the mountain, but Pratt, 66, died on the 1,600-foot hill, according to reports from police, dispatch reports and Coroner Bill Leach.

The helicopter was spotted by dozens of people living in the area and who were out walking on the popular hiking trails.

A Kennewick High School graduate, Pratt ran a respected commercial and residential building company, Don Pratt Construction.

He lent that construction experience to several community projects which may have never happened if he hadn’t volunteered his time.

This included leading a group in 2005 to install a new heating and air conditioning system at the Burbank senior center, and helped convert part of the former Finley elementary school into a community meeting room.

One of the beneficiaries of his volunteer work was the Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels.

The organization mourned his passing on its Facebook page Tuesday. He spent 19 years volunteering, first delivering meals with his dad, and then continuing after his father died.

He helped the organization build its new central kitchen, cafe and administration buildings.

“Don was a generous, kind and humble man who truly lived our principle of putting the needs of others before his own,” the Meals on Wheels post said. “Our thoughts and prayers go our to his family and friends. His passing is a huge loss for our community.”

This was just a small part of the volunteer work that earned Pratt the 2018 Tri-Citian of the Year award.

Rotary International and Kiwanis International present the award each year to a person with both professional success and civic activism.

After hearing the stories of people touched by Pratt’s generosity, Linda Moran, who nominated him, told the Herald she was brought to tears.

She described Pratt as a servant leader, humanitarian, teacher, philanthropist and role model who contributed to many causes through Kennewick’s Sunrise Rotary.

He joined Rotary in the late 90s after going to a meeting about Project IRIS, which sent thermal imaging equipment to local fire stations.

He was a tireless cheerleader for the Mid-Columbia Duck Race and traveled to Ethopia with fellow Rotarians on medical missions.

His efforts also brought playground equipment to Richland and helped create hiking trails on Badger Mountain.

The See3Slam Basketball tournament benefited from his help, as well as the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, Tri-Tech Skills Center, United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery, Habitat for Humanity and his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Kennewick restaurateurs named Tri-Citians of the Year

When the Pasco Senior Center was put up for sale, Senior Life Resources needed a place to cook the thousands meals delivered weekly to homebound Tri-Citians.

Steve and Shirley Simmons, the owners of C.G. Public House, stepped up.

“Not only did they open their doors to help Meals on Wheels, Steve has helped spearhead fundraising to help Meals on Wheels purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars in kitchen equipment,” said Kathy Balcom, a Tri-City advertising executive.

But that is just one of the countless examples of the Kennewick couple’s service to the community that earned them the title Thursday night of 2017 Tri-Citian of the Year.

Balcom, along with Kris Watkins of Visit Tri-Cities and fellow restaurant owner Don Karger, nominated the pair for the region’s top civic honor.

Karger and Balcom specifically singled out the couple’s work helping Meals on Wheels while a new facility was built in Richland.

“If not for them … this program would not have had the ability to feed the hundreds of people that are nourished daily,” Karger said in his nomination letter.

The two dedicated time, resources and service to more than 45 local organizations, including the Reach center, the Richland Public Facilities District, the Carousel of Dreams, Kids Haven, United Way and the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.

In 2015, they provided Christmas dinner for families spending the holiday in Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit.

“Steve and his family set aside a few hours of their Christmas plans to honor the commitment made to the March of Dimes,” Balcom wrote.

The nominators said they exemplify community service to their family, employees, patrons and the community.

Steve Simmons spent years working for Firestone Tire and Service Centers, while Shirley Simmons was a partner in the Country Gentleman restaurant. In 2002, he joined her in the restaurant business. The recently renamed it C.G. Public House. The couple has four grown children.

As business owners, they became active members of Visit Tri-Cities. Steve began serving on the organization’s board of directors in 2015 and worked to advance the tourism industry, wrote Watkins.

“Steve and Shirley Simmons are an incredible team. I recently heard Shirley say, ‘Steve is the meeting-bee and I am the worker-bee,’ wrote Watkins.

“They truly understand the needs of the community and the sacrifice it takes to make it work,” wrote Karger. “I cannot think of two individuals who dedicate more of their time and resources back to the community than these two, while also instilling the importance of community support with their employees and children.”

Dynamic Duo are Tri-Citians of the Year

Tri-City Herald, April 21, 2016
by Wendy Culverwell

There was a measure of irony in the air Thursday night when Columbia Center manager Barbara Johnson was named the 2016 Tri-Citian of the Year.

In keeping with tradition, the Tri-Citian of the Year’s identity remained secret until it was announced. Even the nominee herself was in the dark until then. That’s no small feat considering Johnson chaired the Tri-Citian of the Year program until 2014.

The Tri-Citian of the Year is the region’s top civic honor, given for exceptional contributions to the community. Johnson has lent her support to a long list of civic groups.

Johnson, who lives in Richland, has been intimately involved with the Kennewick’s convention center complex since 2000, when she joined the fledgling Kennewick Public Facilities District board.

She oversaw financing, design and construction of the $20 million center. As the district’s current chairwoman, she is leading a campaign to convince voters to approve a two-tenths of a percent sales tax increase to finance a $35 million expansion and new performing arts center dubbed “The Link.”

Voters rejected a different, earlier expansion pitch in 2012.

Tri-City Herald, April 30, 2015
By Sara Schilling

Back when Dr. John and Priscilla Cadwell first were married, Priscilla asked her husband about his life goals.

He noted that he shared the same initials as a man — Jesus Christ— dedicated to curing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, helping the lame to walk again and spreading the gospel.

And he wanted to do the same.

For decades, John and Priscilla Cadwell have done just that, using their influence and resources to support a vast range of causes and groups in the Tri-Cities and beyond.

On Thursday, the Richland couple was named 2015 Tri-Citian of the Year — praised for their dedication and commitment to the community and their many good works.

“They are the ultimate team,” said Craig Eerkes, last year’s winner. “Their children describe them as movers and shakers, teachers and mentors, dreamers and doers. … (My wife) and I are honored to call them our friends.”

The Cadwells accepted the award to a standing ovation from the crowd of hundreds at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

The Tri-Citian of the Year winner is a closely guarded secret, kept even from the recipient or recipients until the announcement during the ceremony.

The Cadwells seemed shocked, but happy Thursday as they took the stage.

“Wow. This is so over the top,” John Cadwell said.

He talked about his love for his children and grandchildren — and for his wife.

“This is a young lady who has loved me, who has helped me, supported me, nursed me back to health, who has dragged me through tough times,” John said. “Anybody who knows me and knows Priscilla knows I wouldn’t be here without (her).”

Priscilla also talked about her love for her family.

And she praised the Tri-City community.

“I have been blessed by the generosity of this community, blessed by the spirit of this community,” she said. “What a local community. What amazing servants’ hearts this community has. We are blessed to be part of this. We are totally honored and definitely surprised and humbled by this. I hope we can live up to whatever expectations lay ahead.”

John formed Cadwell Laboratories with his brother, Carl, in 1979. Over the years, John and Priscilla have supported groups ranging from Academy of Children’s Theatre and The Chaplaincy to Friends of Badger Mountain and Women Helping Women.

They’ve funded construction of local Habitat for Humanity homes, sponsored rooms in Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s pediatrics center and neonatal intensive care unit, and established multiple scholarships.

They built and donated the Cadwell Student Center at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a medical school in Yakima. John volunteered his time and business expertise to help the school, and Priscilla serves on the university’s regional advisory cabinet and is part of its foundation board.

Last summer, Trios Health kicked off a public fundraising campaign for advanced medical equipment for its new Trios Southridge Hospital.

John and Priscilla announced they were contributing $1 million.

“John and I are proud to stand beside you as fellow villagers, raising up our community’s access to medical care with state-of-the-art equipment,” Priscilla said during a campaign announcement event. The donation is “our way of giving back to a community that’s given us so much, especially a wonderful village in which to raise our family.”

The Cadwells were among six candidates for this year’s Tri-Citian of the Year. While it’s not unprecedented for multiple recipients to share the award, it is unusual.

The last time it happened was in 2004, when Drs. Lewis and Sara Zirkle were jointly named.

The Cadwells were nominated by friend Joyce Goldsmith and Cherami Freeman, one of their five children.

“Their commitment to philanthropy and leadership spreads far and wide but emphasizes local advancement in education, science, health, community and church,” the women wrote.

Goldsmith and Freeman mentioned the conversation John and Priscilla had early in their marriage about life goals.

“Together, John and Priscilla Cadwell have manifested those goals in meaningful, personal ways throughout their community and family,” they wrote.

Tri-Citian of the Year Craig Eerkes says he is ‘humbled and honored’

Tri-City Herald, April 9, 2014

A Kennewick business leader and tireless philanthropist was humbled to find himself in the spotlight Saturday as he was named 2014 Tri-Citian of the Year.

Craig Eerkes was at a loss for words after being singled out for his passion and commitment to his longtime home.

“Oh, boy … I’m extremely humbled and honored to be a part of a very great group of people,” he said while receiving the Tri-Cities’ highest honor during the annual banquet at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

He was surrounded by many admirers, including loved ones who helped keep the award secret until his name was revealed before a room full of Mid-Columbia movers and shakers.

The event’s keynote speaker was Sgt. Keni Thomas, an Army Ranger and Bronze Star recipient whose story was featured in Black Hawk Down.

Eerkes is president of Sun Pacific Energy, a West Canal Drive fuel company. He used to own the SunMarts until two years ago, when he sold 27 stores in Eastern Washington to Circle K Stores.

Eerkes and his wife, Marilee, live in Kennewick.

“This really should be a joint award in that she is a driving force behind a lot of this, and she just sticks me out front,” Eerkes said.

His current project is working with other business leaders and community partners to explore the idea of a new Boys & Girls Clubs facility in downtown Kennewick.

“One may define Craig as somewhat reserved,” said Coke Roth, a Kennewick attorney and 1987 Tri-Citian of the Year. “However, with projects of this nature that he has worked on over the years, he is not afraid to drag friends and relatives along on something he so deeply believes in.”

The Tri-Citian of the Year award is given annually to a person who demonstrates “outstanding leadership and contribution to positive development, economic growth and quality of life in the Tri-Cities.”

The volunteer judges had 10 nominees to consider this year.

Mary and Coke Roth said they nominated Eerkes because he “has the right stuff to be this year’s recipient.”

The couple said a person deserving of the title should have a commitment to leadership, as well as a hand in vocational, avocational, spiritual and community aspects of the Tri-Cities.

“This ubiquitous involvement should involve not only giving personal time until it hurts,” but also soliciting and motivating others to give of human and monetary resources until they hurt, the Roths’ nomination letter said.

“A Tri-Citian of the Year should be … working madly on short-term projects as well as showing a long-term commitment to perpetual efforts,” the letter said. They “oftentimes will never get any ink, air time or megabytes recognizing his or her efforts, but rather, silently serve, above self, in almost anonymous fashion.”

Eerkes was the 2007 Kennewick Man of the Year, and was named to the halls of fame for the Western Petroleum Marketers of America in 2005 and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America in 2013.

His lengthy rsum lists numerous boards, organizations and causes, including: United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties and its Alexis de Tocqueville Society; the Boy Scouts; the Tri-Cities Children’s Developmental Center; Tri-Cities Prep; March of Dimes; Women Helping Women; the Carson Kolzig Foundation; and numerous food banks and youth sports teams.

Eerkes also is a major supporter of the Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation and helped develop the “Read to Lead” breakfast fundraiser. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kennewick.

Craig and Marilee Eerkes, along with son Chris, organize the annual Eerkes Memorial Golf Classic, which benefits the Boys & Girls Club and Young Life in the Tri-Cities. The tournament is a tribute to the couple’s daughter, Laura, who died in a car crash at the age of 16.

Craig Eerkes has signed on as honorary co-chairman of a citizens campaign committee for the sales tax increase on the August ballot, saying businesses thrive when crime and gangs are suppressed.

“Craig understands that his good fortune only became possible, and can only be possible in the future,” the Roths’ letter said, “through spreading his personal and business resources throughout layers of human classes — sometimes to the less fortunate, and sometimes just creating fun and opportunity for all.”

— Kristin M. Kraemer: 582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com

Allen Brecke named Tri-Citian of the Year

Published Saturday, May 11, 2013, Tri-City Herald
By Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald

Editorial Published Sunday, May 12,
2013, Tri-City Herald

Allen Brecke better be careful, or he’ll give lawyers a good name.

Too late.

He’s already made a lie out of the bum rap that has put lawyers at the receiving end of so many mean-spirited jokes.

The Kennewick attorney was named Tri-Citian of the Year on Saturday night before a crowd of well-wishers at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

His years of community service and financial contributions to worthy causes around the Mid-Columbia would elevate the reputation of any group he’s a part of, including the one he’s just joined — winners of the highest honor our community bestows on one of its own.

The selection criteria is worth repeating: “The Tri-Citian of the Year …. contributes to positive community development and economic impact, causes broad positive impact to people, and improved quality of life in the Tri-Cities.”

It’s fair to say that the economic, spiritual and physical well-being of all Tri-Citians are much improved by Brecke’s donations of time and treasure.

He literally is helping to change the face of the Tri-Cities — particularly at Southridge and the west end of Columbia Park, where major public construction projects are under way, thanks in part to Brecke.

Brecke has been co-chairman of the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center’s capital campaign steering committee, helping secure the money needed to start construction.

His efforts include using his influence as a longtime member of the Columbia Center Rotary Club to engineer a $300,000 pledge from the service group to the interpretive center.

He’s pledged $50,000 of his own money to the Reach, but such generosity isn’t unusual for Brecke.

Brecke donated his office staff and equipment to help set up Domestic Violence Services of Benton-Franklin Counties, then donated a BMW convertible to be raffled off for seed money to get the organization started.

He regularly opens his home to fundraising events to benefit the Red Cross of Benton-Franklin County, United Way of Benton-Franklin Counties, the Kennewick General Hospital Foundation and other charities.

Other charities that receive regular financial support from Brecke include the March of Dimes, Children’s Developmental Center, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Young Life, the Vista Youth Center, My Friend’s Place, Second Harvest Tri-Cities, Desert Sun Guild of Children’s Hospital, Tri-City Water Follies, Delta High School and Tri-Cities Prep.

He has served on the Kennewick General Hospital board for seven years and worked behind the scenes with the governor’s office and Sen. Mike Hewitt to keep construction of KGH’s new Southridge hospital on schedule.

Brecke is a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and for 25 years he has conducted services for residents of the Kennewick Life Care Center. He also regularly brings Holy Communion to homebound church members.

He’s also a member of the Tri-Cities Visitors and Convention Bureau, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-City Development Council and the Columbia Basin Badger Club.

So, how many lawyers does it take to change a community for the better?

Ron Hue named Tri-Citian of the Year

Even an impromptu visit from Gov. Chris Gregoire and a comedic anecdote from Washington State University football coach Mike Leach about living in a trailer covered floor-to-ceiling in red shag carpet couldn’t steal Ron Hue’s thunder Saturday night.

The longtime Tri-City Water Follies volunteer was named Tri-Citian of the Year at the annual award banquet night for his “contagious enthusiasm” for the local community.

Hue, branch manager for HAPO Community Credit Union, received the award at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick surrounded by family, friends and many admirers.

“I’m speechless,” he said as he hugged master of ceremonies Fran Forgette shortly after the announcement.

Hue’s expression as he took the stage alongside his family — and the one-time best man at his wedding who drove to Kennewick from Arizona — was one of surprised humility.

“This is when you need to hire an attorney because you need someone to speak for you,” Hue told the audience of Tri-City leaders.

“My dad always told me, ‘When you get something, you always give back more than what you got,’ ” he said. “That is what I’ve tried to do.”

Hue, a former Kennewick Man of the Year, received the S.T.A.R. (Service, Time, Attitude and Reliability) Award last month from the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

He is a lifelong Tri-City resident with a decades-long history of volunteer work, including 33 years as a year-round volunteer for the Water Follies, including helping keep the popular summer event afloat when lack of sponsorship threatened its continued existence a few years ago.

“When working with Ron, you soon realize that he will do more than just attend meetings — he is a true roll-up-your-sleeves, getter-done kind of guy,” read his nomination letter, which was submitted by Karen Miller of Benton PUD and “many others.”

In addition to the Water Follies, he serves on the boards for the Columbia Center Rotary, Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation, Circle of Hope drug court, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.

“Ron rarely talks about what he does and never seeks accolades. His passion to help others is contagious, which generates countless results throughout our community making it a better place for all,” his nomination letter said.

The Tri-Citian of the Year award is given each year to a local person who demonstrates “outstanding leadership and contribution to positive development, economic growth and quality of life in the Tri-Cities.”

Last year’s winner, Skip Novakovich, said Hue embodies the famous lines from President Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural speech about giving to the nation and working together for the freedom of man.

“Ron Hue is a true community servant and a fitting person for us to honor tonight,” Novakovich said.

The 90 minutes or so leading up to the announcement included a surprise visit by Gregoire, who was attending the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation Dinner in the next room.

The night also included a 30-minute speech by Leach. The erudite coach talked about how he transitioned from a law student to a football coach and shared some stories of his struggles along the way, which include time spent living in that one-bedroom trailer with his young family.

His ultimate lessons were to maintain balance in life, follow your passions and give your best.

“I think it’s important to have a passion for what you do,” Leach said. “I think football provides that.”

Skip Novakovich named Tri-Citian of the Year

‘True patriot’ Skip Novakovich named Tri-Citian of the Year

Published Sunday, March 13th, Tri-City Herald
By Kristi Pihl, Herald staff writer

John Umbarger named Tri-Citian of the Year

Umbarger named top Tri-Citian of the Year

Published Saturday, May 1st, Tri-City Herald
By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer