Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of the announcement of Citizen of the Year for 2015, given by Jeff Kasko at the Jan. 17 Mayor’s Breakfast.
It is now my honor to announce Haddonfield’s 2015 Citizen of the Year. I would like to thank Lion Tom Baird for his dedicated and very organized efforts, as well as the members of the selection committee and the people who submitted nominations for helping us choose this year’s honoree.
This year’s Citizen of the Year:
• Is a person of wisdom, character and commitment to excellence.
• Is a graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School.
• Maintains many loyal friendships that began in grade school.
• Serves as a role model and mentor to many people in town, including past and current borough commissioners.
• Lives in the same house in which he grew up.
• Was active in sports growing up, including the YMCA Tigers and Warriors rivalry.
• Is old enough to have attended the famous 1960 championship football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles, who won.
• Spent many summers at Camp Tecumseh in New Hampshire, where he developed his love for outdoor sports, swimming and mountain hiking.
• Has been an active runner and bicyclist.
• Is a member of the Haddonfield Rotary Club.
• Has been involved with the Civic Association, the Y’s Men, Friends of the Library, HMHS Hall of Fame Committee and the borough’s Recreation Council.
• Has been a long-time supporter of Interfaith Caregivers, where he served on the board of trustees.
• Serves as a member, and past chairman, of the Haddonfield Library Board of Trustees.
• Owns and manages a well-known and successful business in town.
• Is a married father of one son, one daughter and two granddaughters.
• Had an illustrious wrestling career at HMHS, where he was captain of an undefeated 1965 team and racked up a record 49 wins in three years as a varsity wrestler, three district championships, two regional championships and one state championship.
• Was named to the HMHS Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame.
• Is a graduate of Gettysburg College.
• Came back to serve as a physical education teacher and assistant wrestling coach at HMHS.
• Has emceed many dinners, forums and events in town.
• Is a former borough commissioner and mayor.
It is my great privilege to ask Myra and other family members to join me here at the head table and to introduce to all of you the 2015 Citizen of the Year, Haddonfield’s own…..Gene Kain.
