The award is a humanitarian award that honors an individual whose selfless acts benefit the city and its citizens. The city takes nominations from the public for the citizen of the year each year and has a committee of citizens that meet and ultimately makes a recommendation to the City Council, which has the final vote.
In 2012, Mae Reatha Coleman was named Crestview’s first citizen of the year for her contributions as a local activist. The 2024 award recipient was Crestview optometrist and Lions Club leader Edward Mitchell Jr., who among other accomplishments was instrumental in establishing the Dinner at Dad’s program that feeds many people at the Church of the Nazarene.
The ceremony to honor this year’s citizen of the year is set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 in the council chambers at City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St. The ceremony will take place following a reception at 5 p.m.