Chilton Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award
Recognition for Community Outreach & Engagement
The Chilton Citizen of the Year Award was created in 1949 to recognize members of our community who go “above and beyond” in service to the Chilton community. Candidates are nominated for this annual honor on the basis of their volunteer efforts and personal involvement in the Chilton community. The Chilton Chamber of Commerce honors a new recipient annually at a social in March, with all members of the community invited.
Nominations are solicited from Chilton community members in January and early February and require the completion of a form detailing the nominee's activities. These must have benefited the citizens of the Chilton area, should focus on volunteer rather than job-related activities, and the nominee must live or work in the Chilton area. The winner is selected by a committee of Chamber members.
Join us as we honor the 2025 Citizen of the Year, Paula Mortimer!

This year marks the 77th Annual Citizen of the Year event, set to be celebrated at the Chilton Eagles Club on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Join us for a Christmas-themed social hour and hors d'oeuvres dinner from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, followed by the award presentation and program starting at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 per person and are available at Vern’s Cheese, BMO Bank, or The State Bank of Chilton.
The 2025 Chilton
Citizen of the Year is
Paula "Elf Mort" Mortimer
2023 Citizen of the Year Pauline Geiser with Chamber President Sue Kaphingst
2021 Citizen of the Year Lois Geiser with family members
2020 Citizens of the Year the Kolbe Family - Ron & Sandi, Luke & Emily
2018 Citizen of the Year Jerry Thiel with Chamber President Erica Bates
2017 Citizen of the Year Jerry Mallmann with Chamber Treasurer Candy Chaussee' & Chamber Secretary Tammy Pethan
Past Recipients of Citizen of the Year Award
| Year | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Bob Cullen |
| 2023 | Pauline Geiser |
| 2022 | Judy Hacker |
| 2021 | Lois Geiser |
| 2020 | Ron & Sandi Kolbe, Luke & Emily Kolbe |
| 2019 | Kim & Nancy McKeen |
| 2018 | Jerry Thiel |
| 2017 | Jerry Mallmann |
| 2016 | Bud & Barb Wieting |
| 2015 | Al Steiner |
| 2014 | Donald Kampfer |
| 2013 | Richie Loose |
| 2012 | Paul Meier |
| 2011 | Terry Friederichs |
| 2010 | Vern & Edith Knoespel |
| 2009 | Tom Roberts |
| 2008 | Paul Hugo |
| 2007 | John Rodney Ronk |
| 2006 | Derek McDermott |
| 2005 | Chuck Schuknecht |
| 2004 | Al & Cleta Woelfel, Roger & Cheri Kolbe |
| 2003 | Dr. Joseph J. Schlaefer |
| 2002 | Rodney Rautman |
| 2001 | Lila Kilsdonk |
| 2000 | Clem Casper |
| 1999 | Sue Seckel |
| 1998 | Deb Bohn & Carl Siebert |
| 1997 | Daniel Albedyll |
| 1996 | Mary Schuler |
| 1995 | Ruth Ann Thede & Ray Wagner |
| 1994 | Jerry Schneider |
| 1993 | Bill Engler, Jr. |
| 1992 | Flossie J. Edens & Ray Mlada |
| 1991 | Dave & Cindy Berth |
| 1990 | Jerome (Jerry) Koenig |
| 1989 | Greg & Kathy Garton |
| 1988 | Bill Engler, Sr. |
| 1987 | Rose M. Wettstein |
| 1986 | Jim Eisner |
| 1985 | Alpheus W. Larson & Lorraine L. Larson |
| 1984 | Betty Koch & Ed. J. Casper |
| 1983 | Arthur W. Hugo & F. J. Schneider |
| 1982 | Gail Engler |
| 1981 | Dick Gilles |
| 1980 | Barbara Hertel & Louise Sohrweide |
| 1979 | Mary Knauf |
| 1978 | Ken Weber & Beulah Griem |
| 1977 | Roger Nelson |
| 1976 | Robert Mand |
| 1975 | Harry Thompson |
| 1974 | Lester Nelson |
| 1973 | Dave Casper |
| 1972 | Hugo Herzog |
| 1971 | G. G. Bloomer |
| 1970 | Arthur Horst & Neil Nelson |
| 1969 | Evelyn McCarty |
| 1968 | Rev. Roland Ahearn, Rev. O.M. Moeschberger & Jack Young |
| 1967 | Dr. K. R. Humke & Dr. James Knauf |
| 1966 | J. Ed. Sohrweide |
| 1965 | Gordon Aebischer |
| 1964 | Orrin Meyer |
| 1963 | Royal Klofanda |
| 1962 | Howard Schucht |
| 1961 | Mr. & Mrs. Vince Todd |
| 1960 | Donald E. Bonk & Vincent G. Reinkober |
| 1959 | Bernice Tesch & Norbert Sturm |
| 1958 | Arthur B. Connell & John Steenport |
| 1957 | Mrs. William Stauss |
| 1956 | Francis J. Flanagan & Rev. William Griffith |
| 1955 | Judge George Goggins, Dr. Goggins & William J. McHale |
| 1954 | Carl Hofmeister & Martin Salm |
| 1953 | John Reinkober & John Schneider |
| 1952 | Arthur Hipke & William Knauf |
| 1951 | Irene Flatley & Theodore Christoph |
| 1950 | Dr. E. T. Rathert & Dr. N. J. Knauf |
| 1949 | Jerome Fox, Judge Arps & Ray Jensen |