1.18.10 Orbitel Awards Sonny Dunn Citizen of the Year Award
Orbitel Communications honored local caterer, Sue Carlisle, with the 2010 Sonny Dunn Citizen of the Year Award at the third annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner.
Sue Carlisle is the wife of Bret and mother of Rylee, 9, and Kierra, 6. She has been a resident of Maricopa for five and ½ years, and is the owner of Straight to the Plate Catering. She is well known throughout Maricopa for her warm smile, willingness to help and wonderful attitude.
Carlisle has been battling a life threatening disease for the past three years. Her fight has not only been an inspiration to those in Maricopa who know her but other lives all across the country are better because of her courageous and successful battle over this disease through experimental treatment.
In spite of challenges most of us will never face, she has continued to be involved with and volunteer countless hours to our community through FOR Maricopa, Against Abuse, Santa Rosa PTO, Girl Scouts, local churches and by serving on the board of the Maricopa Education Foundation.
“It’s easy for us to give back to the community of Maricopa, because you all have given us so much,” Carlisle commented in her acceptance speech. “When Brett and I moved from Scottsdale, we wanted to live in a place like Maricopa to raise our family. We could not have gotten through the last three years without the support of everyone in Maricopa. I accept this award with pleasure and on behalf of all of you because you are all great citizens.”
The nominees for the 2010 award were Dr. John Donohue, Sue Carlisle, and Cecilia Estrada-Ashe.
The award is sponsored each year by Orbitel and is given in honor of William Arthur “Sonny” Dunn, a man who put ‘his hand to the plow’ here in Maricopa for 60 years. A successful farmer, he worked hard day in and day out, raising cotton, alfalfa, pecans and cattle. Surviving through good times and bad, seeing cotton bring all time high prices – to seeing fields covered by flood waters. He always provided for his family and was always striving to do just a little more for everyone around him.
Dunn was a member of the Rotary Club and had perfect attendance for 33 years. Through Rotary, Sonny helped build the Maricopa Swimming Pool and start Stagecoach Days. Sonny served on the Maricopa School Board including service as President. He was a member of the Arizona Historical Society, was integral in the start up and leadership of ED3, the Stanfield Irrigation District and the Maricopa Stanfield Flood Control District.
“Sonny always saw more than most and did more than he had to, to find solutions. Sonny didn’t do any of this for fortune, glory or public recognition – as Sonny would have never imagined that such an award as this would be named his honor,” Keith Kirkman, Orbitel President, said.
But that is exactly why the award bears his name. This award honors those people in Maricopa who never expect recognition for their efforts. They are everyday people who seem to be accomplishing extraordinary things while no one is looking. These people have found a way to balance putting their hand to plow, overcoming all odds, giving more to the community than anyone ever realizes and loving both their families and this community.
“It is very appropriate that each year, the Chamber of Commerce honors Sonny’s legacy by selecting one of its citizens to be named the Sonny Dunn Citizen of the Year. It is an elite class of people who meet the qualities of humanity that Sonny lived,” Kirkman said.
This year’s recipient joined past honorees: Rusty Akers and Wendy Webb.
“Someone once said that Sonny Dunn made you want to be a better person by his actions. Sue, it is by your actions that you have demonstrated that we, as individuals, can overcome all odds and give more than we ever thought possible.”
The following awards were also given at the banquet:
Business of the Year, sponsored by Headquarters Restaurant, was awarded to H & N Landscaping.
Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Anderson Palmisano Farms, was awarded to Terri Kingery.
Non-profit of the Year, sponsored by Central Arizona College, was given to the Recycling Association of Maricopa.
The Golden Spike Award sponsored by Union Pacific Railroad, for the individual or business with the longest standing Chamber membership, The Communicator.
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