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 below by Saturday, July 19, 2025 OR
Downloading the form (see download button below the online form), fill out completely, and postmarked by Monday, July 19, 2025.
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.
If downloading and mailing the nomination form, send to:
Suffolk Rotary Club
C/O First Citizen
P.O. Box 1972
Suffolk, VA 23439-1972
Past First Citizen Honorees
Karla Jean Smith Suffolk First Citizen 2018
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.