Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Wakefield Chamber of Commerce president Dennis Ferson, right, presents a plaque to Jerald Rocco naming him the 2013 "Citizen of the Year" at a banquet held by the local VFW Sunday afternoon.
WAKEFIELD - The Wakefield Chamber of Commerce named Jerald Rocco as the 2013 "Citizen of the Year" Sunday afternoon.
"It's quite an honor and I am truly humbled," Rocco said.
Rocco is the Lakeside Memorial Chapel funeral director, Eucharistic minister and treasurer of the regional Lions Club.
"He is one of Wakefield's most respected and trusted businessmen," said chamber president Dennis Ferson, "Jerald is a total and active supporter of our community and its worthy causes."
The chamber has named over 20 citizens of the year, "but we've never had an event like this," Ferson said.
About 40 people attended a celebration banquet held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the local VFW.
In order to choose recipients of the award, the chamber seeks input from citizens but the directors of the chamber make the final decision.
Ferson also named the American Legion Post 11 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9084 as the two organizations of the year.
"The reason for the tie vote for organization of the year should be obvious; it goes to the two organizations that joined to establish the Wakefield Living Veterans Memorial," Ferson said.
