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Calling Decatur Hometown Heroes

Hometown Heroes attend a Concert on the Square >Hometown Hero Application (PDF)
Nominations are due by Sept. 15

What kind of person is a Hometown Hero? Someone who works hard, often behind the scenes, to make our community a better place in which to live and work. Nominations are being accepted now for Decatur's 2008 Hometown Heroes.

Decatur launched its Hometown Heroes recognition and celebration in the summer of 1996 at the close of the Hometown to the World festival during the Olympics. Each year, Decatur recognizes and celebrates a new group of Hometown Heroes in December.

The Hometown Hero applications are judged by a panel of professionals who work with volunteers throughout the state of Georgia and who do not know the nominees. Click on the link at the top of this page to nominate a Hometown Hero. Nomination forms are also available at City Hall. You may also write an essay describing your Hometown Hero and what he/she has contributed to the community.

For more information email Lee Ann Harvey or call 678-553-6548.

Decatur Salutes 2007 Hometown Heroes

Decatur honored 10 Hometown Heroes in 2007 for contributions made to the Decatur community: Laura Bevins, Nick Farley, Michael Gaertner, Earnest Golding, Rob Gordick, David F. Hale, Jeanne Johnson, Jack Krost, Douglas Neal Stark, and Lea Whitfield.

The Decatur Book Festival executive board was recognized for its contributions to the community: Tom Bell, Linda Harris, Richard Lenz, Alice Murray, Bill Star, Judy Turner, and Daren Wang.

They are pictured after receiving their medals from the Decatur City Commission at the December meeting of the Decatur Business Association.

Decatur started its Hometown Heroes program in 1996 at the close of the Hometown to the World Festival held during the Olympics. The 14-day festival was a success because of the hundreds of volunteers who helped. At the close of that festival, the City Commission honored the volunteers, and since then the Hometown Heroes awards have been presented annually. With the 2007 presentations, Decatur now boasts more over a decade of Hometown Heroes with 187 people having received this special recognition. Detailed information about the Hometown Heroes and their contributions to the community may be found at the links below.

>Click for details about Decatur's 2007 Hometown Heroes

Hometown Heroes Through the Years

Hometown Heroes have served the community in many ways, including:

Helping neighborhoods and neighborhood associations organize and execute a variety of activities.
Supporting the schools by serving on committees, tutoring, babysitting, chaperoning and much more.
Working with less fortunate neighbors and becoming actively involved in community projects.
Serving on volunteer boards and commissions, and in local environmental and nonprofit organizations.
Volunteering hundreds of hours for festivals and events.

2006
Rick Brozek, Deb Burns, Haywood Curry, Dean Fenley, Amanda Jolley, Sue Leonard, J. Tom Morgan, Will Montgomery, Alex Sherrill, Bill Starr, Scott Thompson, Jim Toney, and Jim Warren.

2005
Paige Brown , Frank Burdette , Richard Cohen , Tom Keating , Randy Lane , Janice Mathews , Alvin McNeely and Katie Pedersen , Daniel Newman , Angelo , Bette and Anthony Pitillo , Ethel Steverson , Beth Thompson , Pearl Trimble (posthumously), Beth Vann , and Leah Kennedy Vaughan.

2004
Jill Alikonis, Pamela Barnes, Darlene Barrett, Terri Jagger Blincoe, Vandy Vail Dickson, Patti and Gary Garrett, Edith Hambie, Kaye Hyde, Danny Ingram, Major Nesby, Patrick Putman, Elizabeth Wilson, Kimberly and Brian Zwaagstra. Special award to the Georgia Municipal Association.

2003
Doug Aholt, Dottie Aiken, Andrea Berry, Chris Billingsley, Cassondra Breedlove, Ruby Bock, Heather Flury, Phyllis Gilbert, Mance and Joy Jackson, Paul Jones, Julie Rhame, Becky Smith, Robert Soens.

Hometown Heroes 2002

2002
Lee Brown, Paul Cushing, John Hashimoto, Marceil Joyner, Shirley Kendrick, Marcia, Jill, Amy Lampe & Greg Farley (Lampe-Farley Communications, Inc.), Beth Mahaffey, Valeria Maier, Brian McGonegal, Katherine Strong, Tony Powers, Susan Ellis Purdom, Don Rigger, Cathy Vogel.

Special award to the Morse Family (Chet, Gene, Mary Ellen, Anne, Harry, Genia)

Hometown Heroes 2001 2001
Allison Adams, Jerry Burns, Robert Brown, Fred Cavalli, Charles Cope, Rick Epting, Joanne Hauserman, Greg Levine, Kathy Masters, Stacie Monroe, Neil Norton, Louis Pichulik, Ken Rosskopf, Mary Whitehead.

Hometown Heroes 2000 2000
Anna Benefield, Thomas Benefield, Alma Fleetwood, Ellen Slack, Carolyn Krueger, Bill Markert, Mike Gallagher, David Crenshaw, Mary Boyd, Mark Burnette, Catherine Carter, Larry Fossett, Jan Goodloe, Jim Jarboe, JoAnn Murphey, Terry Mann, Vee Simmons.

Hometown Heroes 1999 1999
Bobbie Elzey, Diann Baker, Harriet Alston, Tom Barefoot, Carter Wilson (Nicholas & Valarie Wilson pictured), Emilie Markert, Jim Eley (Mattie Eley pictured), Phyllis Schwartz, Juli Fleming, Martha Clinkscales, Fran Franz, Diane Simms, Sue Ellen Owens, Gary Simms, Pete Whitlock.

Hometown Heroes 1998
1998
Betsy Tanner, Bob Coleman, Toni Young, Evelyn Sims, Sally Wylde, Lyn Deardorff, Jason Uchitel, Clarence DuBois, Louise Jackson, Steve Vogel, Julia Levy, Jean Quade, Jon Abercrombie, Richard White.

Hometown Heroes 1997 1997
Carol Reap, Joanne Richardson, Paul Powell, Celia Powell, Melissa Spalding, Judy Turner, John Joyner, Liz O'Brien, Hopie Eubanks, Anne Earle, Cassondra Breedlove, Jane Harris, Fred Boykin.

Hometown Heroes 1996 1996
Sandy Bishop Turner, Dana Haugaard, Eddie Owen, Sydney Floyd, Jane Boykin, Cheryl Burnette, Linda Sabo, Brady Horne, Rosella Pringle, Scott Miller, Roberta E. Bayles, Beverly Dabney, Patricia Dollisch, Paula Bonaker, W.D. Wheeler, Olga Kate Morgan, John Randall, Commander B.F. Wilkins, Matt Parry, Buddy Goodloe, Pat Solomon, Weny Worrall, Michael Harbin. Not pictured: Genevieve Edwards.