Staff photo/Rhonda Silence Top: Citizen of the Year Dick Parker and Senior Citizens of the Year Gladys and George “Whitey” Dockan. Staff photo/Laurie Johnson Far Left: Cook County High School 2009 Exemplary Graduate Tara Austin Photo courtesy of the family Left: Another CCHS Exemplary Grad Kostya Senty
A time-honored tradition of Cook County’s Fisherman’s Picnic is the Grand Marais Lions Club selection of exemplary citizens and graduates. The community members receiving these special awards were announced on the windy Harbor Park stage on Saturday, August
2009.
Lion Rosemary Lamson was delighted to announce that the Senior Citizens of the Year for 2009 are Gladys and George
Whitey” Dockan of Grand Marais. The Dockans were recognized for numerous reasons, but foremost for their positive attitude toward life.
Gladys is an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and its quilting group. For many, many, years she has visited residents of the Nursing Home and Care Center, lifting spirits by doing hair. She keeps a beautiful garden
their Grand Marais home and frequently shares plants with others. She is an American Cancer Society volunteer and single-handedly raised in excess of
10,000 for the ACS Relay for Life to fight cancer.
Whitey, at age 86, is great supporter of the Grand Marais Municipal Pool, visiting for a swim nearly every day. The nomination declares, “Anyone who meets Whitey and experiences his everpresent sense of humor will come away with a smile on his or her face.”
Whitey displayed his fun-loving and caring attitude when he and Gladys prepared for their ride in a convertible in the Fisherman’s Picnic parade. A family member teased, asking if he knew why he was being treated to the special ride, to which Whitey replied, “Because I’ve got the best woman in town!”
The nomination added, “Gladys and Whitey are treasures to us all. They are part of the fabric of this community. They are hardworking, upstanding, friendly, and fun. They represent what is best about the people here.
Lamson then announced that
Richard “Dick” Parker was nominated for the honor of Citizen of the Year by a number of different organizations— the Cook County Snowmobile Club, the Maple Hill Community Fire Department, and the Cook County ATV Club. His nomination received letters of support from others—Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, and the Mush for a Cure. He has served on others—the Cook County Firewise Committee, the Ham Run Half Marathon, the Cook County Biomass Committee and more.
Over and over those nominating Dick said he is the “go-to-guy” for their organization. The Maple Hill Fire Department said it, adding that Dick is “always supportive and encouraging of others, gracefully tackling the tough issues, never seeking personal credit, but usually the first to bestow it on others.”
DNR Conservation Officer Darin Fagerman, who said he appreciates Dick’s support with firearm, ATV, and snowmobile safety said, “If you look in the dictionary next to volunteer, you will see Richard “Dick” Parker’s picture. He is what voluntarism is all about. He doesn’t just show up, he puts his heart and soul into everything he does.”
Grand Marais Lioness Bev Denyes then took to the microphone to announce the 2009 Cook County High School graduates to receive Exemplary Graduate honors. She welcomed Tara Austin to the stage, commending her for her numerous activities, such as volleyball, Art Club and Student Council. Also honored was Kostya Senty, who was not present to receive his accolades. Kostya plans to attend the Diving Institute of Technology in Seattle, Washington.
Congratulations to all of the honorees— students and citizens—who do so much to make our community a better place to live!
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