Citizens of the Year “Long Overdue”

WAITSBURG - After listing former Citizen of the Year recipients, Tom Baker asked attendees at the March 18 Commercial Club meeting to rise. "If your name doesn't start with 'J', sit down . . . If you've already won the award, sit down . . . Look who's left!" Enthusiastic applause erupted and the audience laughed as still-standing Larry and Deanne Johnson eyed one another in surprise. "We were under the pretense that we knew who was receiving the award, and it wasn't us!" said Larry later.

The Johnsons moved to Waitsburg from New Orleans in August 2002 after purchasing the Butler house on 5th and Orchard Streets. Both had retired - Larry as a Texaco project engineer and Deanne as a paralegal - and moved briefly to Sun Valley while they searched for a new place to call home. After moving to town, Deanne became a realtor and worked in the area until turning 65, when she retired a second time.

In his nomination letter - one of several re­ceived

-- Jeff Broom appreciates the care the Johnson's have bestowed on their home, which happens to be where his parents were married. "Many of us nervously watched to see who would buy the historic showpiece," said Broom. "Larry and Deanne were looking for something in Day­ton or here, and thanks to the availability of this house we were the winners."

Baker read portions of Broom's letter to the Club:

This couple hit the deck running and got in­volved in just about everything the community was doing. They joined the Commercial Club and have served as officers and board members. They were charter members of the Commerce Committee which initiated fix-up grants, downtown forums, a business recognition program, a website with free business pages, a calendar and business directory, and the downtown lighting project -- all in support of Waitsburg business. Deanne also organized flash mob style shopping days in support of one business at a time. Larry joined the Lions and has served as secretary and president. Deanne joined the board of the Histori­cal Society and took the position of curator. This led to the biggest single ef­fort since the Bruce house restoration, which was to computerize all of our do­nors and artifact data. She also serves in the Odako Club.

With Deanne on the Historical Society board, that let Larry in on all the various things we needed done. I once mentioned that I had been shoveling dirt into the low spot for the fence that we removed from the grounds. I went back the next day to finish the job and it was done. When some of the ornate trim around the top of the house had to be replaced, Larry built it to match the old pattern perfectly. One night at our meeting we decided to hire somebody to rip out the old living room carpet in the Wilson- Phillips house so we could install new flooring. I went back the next morning to check on something and there were Larry and Deanne on their hands and knees pulling up dirty car­pet bit by bit. You never see us hauling tables, benches, and chairs for an event without Larry right in the thick of it.

Larry and Deanne have volunteered for years to help with the Tour of Walla Walla bike race, and their support was very instru­mental in getting more of the races staged in Waits­burg. Then Cycle Oregon found us, leading to one of the biggest events our town has ever seen. Deanne and Larry followed through, organizing volunteers, setting up Wait's Market and events in the park, and Deanne even pushed through a grant for down­town hanging flower bas­kets.

As if that weren't enough, Larry served on the city Council. True to form, he noticed some original trim in City Hall which needed to be re­placed so he made a mold of the original and du­plicated it. He also helps seniors with their taxes in Walla Walla. And that's just the stuff I know about. It is a common occurrence to find out another way in which this remarkable couple helps their neigh­bors.

Commercial Club Pres­ident Joy Smith noted that naming the Johnson's Citizens of the Year was long overdue, but that they were always on the execu­tive board and would talk the board into awarding someone else. Waitsburg Celebration Days Queen Megan Morrison present­ed the Johnsons with a plaque commemorating the honor. Larry accepted the award and, in typical Johnson fashion, deflected the honor.

"We weren't the main leaders in many of the things mentioned. Several others played just as big a role," said Larry. "I ap­preciate that we can help with those kinds of things." He then pointed the finger at Deanne saying, "She continually comes up with ideas and has a vested interest in the business community. She has better ideas - I just follow along and do what I can. We are both very thankful and ap­preciative."