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Grooney named Citizen of the Year
By Jim Cornelius

Bob Grooney accepted the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award.

Long-time Sisters businessman Bob Grooney was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce at the organization's annual banquet on Friday, February 15.

The chamber also saluted Pine Meadow Village as Business of the Year and awarded the Keys to the City to outgoing city administrator Barbara Warren.

The dinner, attended by approximately 160 people, was held at Eagle Crest Resort.

Grooney created the Citizen of the Year award shortly after he joined the chamber in the 1980s.

"Little did I know that I'd be caught in one of my own devices," he said.

Grooney's extemporaneous humor (which for years gave him a seemingly permanent gig as the event's emcee) was on full display in his acceptance speech. He chided the chamber board of directors for not conducting thorough background checks on their Citizen of the Year winners.

Then he launched into an autobiography that explained his (hitherto unheard of) nickname, "Boxcar Bob."

The chamber offered a full-sized portrait of Grooney for auction. Outgoing president Peter Storton started the bidding at $300. Bill Reed countered with a bid of $275. From there, the bidding plunged like Enron stock until the portrait was sold for "two bits" to Claudia Grooney.

In accepting the Business of the Year award for Pine Meadow Village, Doug Sokol spoke of the sense of responsibility he and his family and partner Steve McGhehey have for developing the beautiful spot at the western end of Sisters.

Sokol recalled being on a camera crane to take promotional photographs that same morning.

"I had a perspective of the city this morning that was nothing short of a spiritual experience," he said.

Sokol said that he and his partners hope to create a development that will enhance Sisters and add to the year-round economy of the town.

Sokol's wife Phyllis was on hand to sing with new chamber president Ed Fitzjarrel. The duo performed "America the Beautiful" with Fitzjarrel on guitar.

Then the new president, who prefers performing to public speaking, offered "Here Comes the Sun" with a sly promotion slid in for the chamber's Tuesday sunrise meetings.

Fitzjarrel praised the individuals who step up to fill needs in the community.

"It's a special place," he said. "People give of their time."

Outgoing president Peter Storton honored Chuck Fadeley with the President's Choice award, noting that Fadely has offered his legal services to many organizations in Sisters, including the chamber.

Storton cited Fadeley's service as an example of the kind of service President George W. Bush exhorted the nation to commit to in his recent State of the Union speech.

"We, too, have some responsibility, as do all the citizens of America," Storton said. "Find your place to volunteer. It's a feel-good thing that you'll never forget."

In presenting the Keys to the City to Barbara Warren, the chamber executive director noted her long years of work to fund and build a municipal sewer system and her efforts to create an Ash Street park.

Warren, who will soon retire, shared credit with city staff and noted that the current city council is probably the best she has ever worked with.

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