Feb. 24, 2004 – On Wednesday, one of the island's most closely guarded secrets will be revealed when the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II announces its Person of the Year.
Rotary members pride themselves on being able to keep this secret. They did such a good job of it a couple years ago that they completely fooled 2002 recipient Eliot MacIver Davis, who had then chaired the club's award committee for 10 years.
Every year friends and family have to find ways to trick the recipient into attending the annual meeting. Davis was visibly surprised when he accepted the award — a statuette of Don Quixote — from his committee co-chair, Chris Brathwaite. Davis had been prepared to honor longtime friend and associate Mark Marin, headmaster at Antilles School for 22 years. Marin died unexpectedly in June 2001. "Now I know how everybody else felt," he'd said.
Last year's recipient of the statue was LaVerne Ragster, fourth president of the University of the Virgin Islands, who had come to the ceremony prepared to give a speech about the initiatives being taken at UVI. "And I had my speech all prepared," Ragster had said.
The award recognizes a person who "courageously struggles against the odds and has significantly affected the course for good on the island," Rotary II President Cheryl George Chance said in a release.
Why the hero of Miguel de Cervantes' novel? Davis said Tuesday, "We select Don Quixote because he is renowned for honor and truth and, of course, for dreaming the impossible dream."
Previous honorees represent a wide range of community leaders, including 2002 gubernatorial candidate John P. deJongh Jr., who received the honor for 2000, and Source publisher Shaun A. Pennington, who was recognized the following year.
The Rotary Club meets at noon Wednesday at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
Past honorees are:
– 2002 Elliot "Mac" Davis
– 2001 Shaun A. Pennington
– 2000 John P. deJongh Jr.
– 1999 Randy Knight
– 1998 Nick Pourzal
– 1997 Lorraine Berry
– 1996 Vinni Mohanani
– 1995 Juel T.R. Molloy
– 1994 Edward E. Thomas Sr.
– 1993 Leona Bryant
– 1992 Verne A. Hodge
– 1991 Athniel "Addie" Ottley
– 1990 Dilsa Capdeville
– 1989 Ron de Lugo
– 1988 Irvin "Brownie" Brown
– 1987 Alexander A. Farrelly
– 1986 Dr. Alfred O. Heath
– 1985 Calvin Wheatley
– 1984 Costas Coulianos
– 1983 Dr. Roy L. Schneider
– 1982 Albert A. Aubain
– 1981 – Wilbur "Bill" Lamotta
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