2009 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:  CHUCK CLEMANS

(named at the Chamber banquet on Jan. 31, 2009)

Few residents have left their mark as deeply on this community.   Our Citizen of the Year served as Chamber President and has donated to every conceivable community cause and volunteer effort.  But that’s not the reason for this honor.

Concerns for Children and Education have dominated his resume – but that’s not the reason we honor this former teacher.  Even though Clackamas Community College recently named an endowment and design lab in the college’s  Art Center after him and he was recently President of the Oregon Community College Association.  Even though he was superintendent of Oregon City Public Schools for 10 years.

This person of distinction has been president of the Regional Arts and Culture Council, served on the Portland Center for the Performing Arts Board, served as chair of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance and chair of the county Cultural Trust board.  All good stuff, but that’s not the reason for our honor.

We name Chuck Clemans our 2009 Citizen of the Year because he steered the Elevator Art Project from inception to completion.  As chair of the Elevator Art Committee, he led the national artist selection process, the fundraising, and the citizen involvement activities – even taking the artist out on his boat to better see the environment around the elevator.   When we held the Public Art Dedication ceremony in September, Chuck and the committee realized that generations of citizens from the 120,000 annual ridership to visitors exploring Oregon City would enjoy ‘Elevations in Transition,’ the unique and distinctive lenticular prints installed in the viewing deck and tunnel of our most visible and beloved City Icon.

Thank you, Chuck, for helping to making our community a better place!