KP Lions vote Jud Morris ‘Citizen of the Year’

Hugh McMillan

The Key Peninsula Lions Club-sponsored 31st annual Citizens of the Year Awards dinner on March 28 culminated in the announcement that Jud Morris had been selected by the Lions in a secret ballot to be the 31st Citizen of the Year. 

The most vociferous applause at the announcement came from the other 26 nominees for the honor among the more than 200 attendees who enjoyed the evening at the Key Peninsula Civic Center.

Beyond his paid work, Morris devotes hours behind the scenes supporting youth, families, education and services improving KP's quality of life.

Keynote speaker Mark Linquist, Pierce County prosecuting attorney extolled the virtues of volunteerism, noting that his office would be unable to cope with its tasks without the assistance of its many volunteers.

Before his talk, to establish an orderly manner in which tables of diners went to the buffet line, each table was encouraged to contribute dollars in envelopes on each table, the highest bidders gaining first access to the dinner prepared by chef Dorne Webster. The more than $1,000 contributed to this "orderly solution" were given to support the activities of the Key Free Clinic.

KP Lions-sponsord Boy Scout Troop 220 members were there in force to assist with setup for the event and to present the U.S. colors at the opening ceremony.

Food was served and tables bussed by a team of Peninsula High juniors: Mackenzie Mills, Kasey Davis, Derek Erikson, George Clark, Kaytlyn Johnson, Jacob Conn, Teagan Horkan, Zach Winter, Gol-Dann Slater and Max Mikelson.

To everyone's delight, music was provided by the trio “302.” A large number of prizes were awarded through the raffle process thanks to contributions by local businesses.