Rotary Names 2022 Citizens of the Year

Solomon, who joined the Park City community 25 years ago, was honored with the Jack C. Green Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award. She was recognized for her far-reaching philanthropic efforts, including her pioneering efforts to start the Park City Community Foundation’s Solomon Fund.

 

Hendrickson earned the Linda Singer Berrett Professional Citizen of the Year Award. Dar, as he is singularly known to anyone who has met him, is credited with enriching the lives of thousands of young Park City boys and girls as a charismatic ski coach with Park City Ski & Snowboard – a role he has held for 34 years!

 

“I love these awards because they touch on the very roots of what makes our community great,” said Park City Rotary Club President Diane Bernhardt. “In their own unique ways, both Dar and Beano truly represent the spirit of giving and helping each other that has been the backbone of our community going back in history.”

 

Both Beano and Hendrickson will be featured as grand marshals of the Sept. 5 Miners’ Day parade down historic Main Street in Park City.

 

In nearly a quarter century since she has been a part of the Park City community, Solomon has made a significant impact through her philanthropic endeavors — supporting vital causes and helping local nonprofits.

 

Her most notable endeavor came in 2016 when she partnered with the Park City Community Foundation to launch the Solomon Fund, an initiative focused on increasing access to sports and recreation for Latino youth. In its first six years the program has impacted hundreds of local kids with over $800,000 in grants and scholarships.

 

She also played a pivotal role with the establishment of the Children’s Justice Center’s building. She also supported the endowing of the People’s Health Clinic medical director, named in honor of longtime Rotarian and past Rotary district governor Dr. John Hanrahan, as well as playing a role with The Hope Alliance’s vision initiatives with underserved communities in Park City.

 

While her interest has covered a wide swath from education to arts to health and human services, a strong focus has been to look at underserved populations and through that to make our community a better place to live.
As further evidence of her role in the community, Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, together with the Park City Community Foundation, used the occasion of the presentation to announce a generous contribution to affordable housing in the community.

Hendrickson, a native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has made Park City his home since 1979. A ski racer at Northern Michigan University, he continued his passion for sport in Park City taking on a role as head coach for the fabled Devo Program of the then Park City Ski Team.

 

Working with boys and girls nine and 10 years old, Hendrickson’s focus was not just ski racing but working with kids on life skills and core values. Things like respect, integrity, accountability and teamwork were more important than how to carve a fast turn around a gate.

Alumni of his program still remember his Devo Phrase of the Year. And if you’re out and about on the mountain, you’re likely to run into a huge pack of kids who greet you with a “Best Day Ever” shoutout.

 

While his program was a starting point for great athletes like Ted Ligety and many others, what’s most notable about his program was that he developed good citizens for the community.

 

“Each year with our Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Awards we find yet more examples of how our community works together to build a better future for all,” said Rotarian Bob Richer, who oversees the awards. “When we look at stories of how people like Dar and Beano have contributed to our town, it makes you really proud to be a Parkite!”

 

The Jack C. Green Volunteer Citizen of the Year award is named after the former Park City mayor from 1978-86 who was instrumental in rallying community volunteerism during the community’s formative years as a destination resort. The Linda Singer-Berrett Professional Citizen of the Year Award is named in honor of Park City Rotary’s first female president who was a strong community leader in her role as a teacher and school principal before her passing in 2000.

 

The Park City Rotary Club was the original Rotary Club in the community, starting in 1980. Today there are three. It started its Citizen of the Year Awards program in 1981, adding the professional category in 1993. The list of 69 past recipients is a veritable who’s who of individuals who have made a vital difference to the quality of life in the Park City community.

 

In addition to the Rotary Club’s annual Citizen of the Year Awards, in 2021 the club presented special honors to a group of citizens who were the backbone of Summit County’s unique and highly effective vaccination program. 

 

The club was named Utah Rotary Club of the Year in 2014. It is widely recognized for its service projects in the community and its support of local nonprofits. Among its many activities in the annual Miners’ Day parade, set this year for September 5. The day will feature a parade, daylong festival for the community in City Park and the annual Running of the Balls, which raises upwards of $50,000 for local causes. Checkout information on how you can participate at www.parkcityminersday.org.

 

PARK CITY ROTARY CLUB CITIZENS OF THE YEAR - PAST RECIPIENTS 
Jack C. Green Volunteer Citizen of the Year
2022 - Beano Solomon
2021 - Jim Gaddis
2020-21 - Community Appreciation Awards for COVID Response (Gary and Debbie Crandall)
2019 - Karen Marriott
2018 - Wally and Lorraine Stuecken
2017 - Craig Cooper 
2016 - Carol Loomis
2015 - Kim McClelland
2014 - Glenn Artist
2013 - Bruce Erickson
2012 - Mo Hickey
2011 - Joel Fine
2010 - Mary and Charlie Wintzer
2009 - Lynn Fey and Sydney Reed
2008 - JoAnn Krajeski
2007 - Val Chin
2006 - KPCW Radio Volunteer DJs
2005 - Summit County Sheriff Search and Rescue
2004 - William Brown
2003 - Toni Gannon and Tom Heffron
2002 - Sarah Jones
2001 - Arlene and Lew Fine
2000 - Lani Furr
1999 - Dana Williams
1998 - Linda Meyers
1997 - Shelley Weiss
1996 - Debbie Reid
1995 - Summit County Friends of Animals
1994 - Dixie Geisdorf
1993 - Evelyn Richards
1992 - Park City Ambassadors
1991 - Lou Hudson
1990 - Jack Dozier
1989 - Bob Marsh
1988 - Meeche White
1987 - Bob Wells
1986 - Nan McPolin
1985 - Ann MacQuoid
1984 - Jack Green
1983 - Tina Lewis
1982 - Emergency Medical Technicians
1981 - Bea Kummer

 

Linda Singer-Berrett Professional Citizen of the Year
2022 - Duane ‘Dar’ Hendrickson, Park City Ski & Snowboard
2021 - Katie Wright, Park City Community Foundation
2020-21 - Community Appreciation Awards for COVID Response (Summit County Health leaders including Derek Moss and Chris Crowley; Summit County Mass Vaccination Volunteer Force)
2019 - Rich Bullough, Summit County
2018 - Anita Lewis, Summit County
2017 - Charlie Sturgis, Mountain Trails Foundation
2016 - Wendy Fisher and Cheryl Fox, open space advocates
2015 - Leslie Thatcher, KPCW
2014 - Colin Hilton, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation
2013 - Mike Leurs, Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District
2012 - Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski, Holy Cross Ministries
2011 - Randy Barton, Egyptian Theater
2010 - Scott Loomis, Mountainlands Community Housing
2009 - Not awarded
2008 - Candy Erickson, Park City leader
2007 - Lloyd Evans, Park City Police
2006 - Nora Shepard, Summit County Community Development
2005 - Hal Smith, Park City High School
2004 - Rob Slettom, Identity Properties
2003 - Julie Wilson, Deer Valley Resort
2002 - Bonnie Park, Snyderville Basin Rec
2001 - Michael Shepherd, Park City High School Football
2000 - Bob Wheaton, Deer Valley Resort
1999 - Troy Duffin, Mountain Trails
1998 - Ron Ivie, Park City Municipal
1997 - Stein Eriksen, Deer Valley Resort
1996 - Mary Morrison, Recycle Utah
1995 - Rick Brough, KPCW
1994 - Tom Cammermeyer, Norwegian School
1993 - Nick Badami, Park City Ski Area