The following are the past honorees of the Community Development Group and Chamber of Commerce. NOTE – (C): Citizen of the Year; (M): Merchant of the Year; (A): Above and Beyond; (B): Business of the Year; (V): Volunteer of the Year; (CM): Committee of the Year; (PR) Project of the Year). 1984 – Bud Lent (C) 1985 – Martin, Jackie (C); Prall, Dr. DDS (M) 1986 – Peters, Richard (C); Stoll, Carroll (M) 1987 – McCutcheon, Jas. W. and Ruth (C); Stoltz, Richard and Viola (M) 1988 – McWilliams, John (C) 1989 – Edelman, Robert (M); Moser, John (C) 1990 – Dietrich, Gary (M); Smith, Mike (C) 1991 – Rieniets, Lorna & Ray (M); Rog ers, T. Edwin (C) 1992 – N/A 1993 – Booth, Ann (M); Kirkpatrick, Leo (C) 1994 – Purvis, Larry (M); Stoner, Vivian (C) 1995 – Koppenhaver, Ann (A); Stolls (M); Stoner, Jean (C) 1996 – Brown, Loyd and Sue (A); Pavel ka, Lois (C); Shepley Pharmacy (M) 1997 – Alger, Faye and Larry (M); Booth, Ann (C); Pizza Palace (M); Snyder, Sue (A) 1998 – McClain, Joe (A); Rife, Gladys (C); Mount Vernon Insurance (M) 1999 – Bauman & Co (M); Bova, La Vonne (A); Hills Bank (M); Larsen, Iris (C); Meers, Geneva (A); Wellso, Carolyn (C) 2000 – Lynch Ford (A); Rieniets, Lorna & Ray (C); Neal’s Water Conditioning (M) 2001 – Liberty Iron Works — Kasey & Dale Merrill (M); Bardsley, John (C); Cornell College (A); Garner, Les (A); Don Stine (Special) 2002 – Fordyce, Ed (A); Gary’s Foods (M); Hess, Becky (C) 2003 – Blooming Acres — Owen, Becka (M); Early Morning Downtown Weeder & Planter (A); Guillaume, Fran & Cherie (C) 2004 – Elliott, Rick (A); Geinzer, Guy (C); Lincoln Café — Matt Steigerwald (M) 2005 – Greb, Mark (A); Plaza Auto Action (A); Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun — Jake Krob (M); Sauter, Edward (C) 2006 – Borg, Dean (C); Polly Ann’s Antiques (M); Southeast Linn Community Center (A) 2007 – Rexroat, Dee Ann (C); Big Creek Market (M); O’Connor, Beryl (A); Mount Vernon School District (Special) 2008 – Mount Vernon Bank and Trust (M); Wolfe, Bob (V); Hill, Bob (V) 2009 – NA 2010 – Skillet Café (M); Galen Lacey (V); Eric Krob (V) 2011 – Hills Bank (B); Dean Traver (V) 2012 – Fuel (B); Carol Chamberlain (V); Jim Wallace (C) 2013 – Tom Wieseler (C); Chameleon’s Pub & Grub (B); Project Bright Idea (CM); Trude Elliott (V) 2014 – Nola Owens (C); M & K Dust Control, Inc. (B); ZIP Code Day Committee (CM); Cheryl Russell (V); Save the Field (Special) 2015 – Fred & Marion Lehman (C); Kim Benesh (V); Helios Stitches N Stuff (B); Chili Cook-Off Committee (CM); Lis bon Parks and Rec (Special) 2016 – Craig Allin (C); Lee Hilliker (V); Bon Appetit (B); Animenagerie Committee (CM); Sauerkraut Days and Heritage Days (Special) 2017 – Amy White and Cathy Boggs (C); Braden Rood (V); ABCM Corp (B); Nitty Gritty (CM) 2018 – Ed Sauter (C); Beryl O’Connor (C); Amy Haney (V); Silver Spider (B); Smithsonian (CM) 2019 — Judy and Don Stine (C); Sherene Player (V); Budget Blinds (B); Main Street Iowa Spring Workshop (CM) 2020 — Citizens of Mount Vernon and Lisbon (C); Mike Smith (V); Kae Apothecary (B); Cold Turkey Challenge (PR); Magical Night (CM). 2021 – Rich and Debra Herrmann (C), Dolly Parton Imagination Library (PR), Glyn Mawr: The Local (B), Mount Vernon Baseball team (V), Heritage Days Committee (CM).