History of the Corvallis First Citizen Awards
In 1947, The Corvallis Jaycees (a.k.a. Junior Chamber of Commerce) started honoring outstanding citizens. This award was called the Distinguished Service Award.
In 1950, no awards were given.
In 1951, The Benton County Chamber of Commerce took over honoring outstanding citizens. This award was called the Benton County Citizen of the Year (now known as the First Citizen award).
On January 26, 1957, The Corvallis Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the Corvallis Jaycees to put on the annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet. The banquet was held at Wagner’s Restaurant in downtown Corvallis. There were 125 attendees. Robert C. Ingalls (publisher of the Corvallis Gazette Times) was toastmaster of the event.
With the Chamber and Jaycees teaming up, it was decided that two awards would be presented. The Distinguished Service Award was renamed to the Junior First Citizen award. Citizens aged 21 to 35 were eligible. The Benton County Citizen of the Year Award was renamed to the Senior First Citizen Award (now known as the First Citizen award). Citizens aged 36 and older were eligible.
In 1960, a new award category was added, the Future First Citizen award. High School Seniors were eligible for this award.
In 1964, the name of the awards ceremony was changed to the First Citizens Awards Banquet. Also that year, the Future First Citizen award was dropped.
In 1971, the Future First Citizen award was reinstated.
In 1975, no awards were given.
In 1976, a new awards category was added, the Senior First Citizen award. Citizens aged 66 and older were eligible.
In 1996, the Corvallis Area Chamber of Commerce and Corvallis Jaycees decided to revamp the event. It was decided to combine the Chamber’s annual business awards ceremony with the First Citizen awards and rename the event “Celebrate Corvallis”. The Chamber would take full financial control of the event but the Jaycees would still remain as an integral part. That relationship still exists today.
In 1950, no awards were given.
In 1951, The Benton County Chamber of Commerce took over honoring outstanding citizens. This award was called the Benton County Citizen of the Year (now known as the First Citizen award).
On January 26, 1957, The Corvallis Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the Corvallis Jaycees to put on the annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet. The banquet was held at Wagner’s Restaurant in downtown Corvallis. There were 125 attendees. Robert C. Ingalls (publisher of the Corvallis Gazette Times) was toastmaster of the event.
With the Chamber and Jaycees teaming up, it was decided that two awards would be presented. The Distinguished Service Award was renamed to the Junior First Citizen award. Citizens aged 21 to 35 were eligible. The Benton County Citizen of the Year Award was renamed to the Senior First Citizen Award (now known as the First Citizen award). Citizens aged 36 and older were eligible.
In 1960, a new award category was added, the Future First Citizen award. High School Seniors were eligible for this award.
In 1964, the name of the awards ceremony was changed to the First Citizens Awards Banquet. Also that year, the Future First Citizen award was dropped.
In 1971, the Future First Citizen award was reinstated.
In 1975, no awards were given.
In 1976, a new awards category was added, the Senior First Citizen award. Citizens aged 66 and older were eligible.
In 1996, the Corvallis Area Chamber of Commerce and Corvallis Jaycees decided to revamp the event. It was decided to combine the Chamber’s annual business awards ceremony with the First Citizen awards and rename the event “Celebrate Corvallis”. The Chamber would take full financial control of the event but the Jaycees would still remain as an integral part. That relationship still exists today.
