Who Makes Thomasville Better? Chamber Opens Nominations for 2027 Citizen of the Year

THOMASVILLE, Ala. — Do you know someone who has made Thomasville a better place to live? The Thomasville Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Thomasville Citizen of the Year, an honor recognizing a resident whose contributions have improved life in the Clarke County city.

Nomination letters are due by Monday, Nov. 9. A community vote will follow Nov. 16-20, and the winner will be announced at the chamber’s annual Christmas banquet on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Who is eligible

The award honors significant contributions to the community. According to the chamber, the selection criteria include:

• Significant community contributions
• Past and present community activities
• Charity and philanthropic efforts
• Having improved the quality of life in Thomasville
• Character and civic leadership

Nominees must not have won the award within the last 10 years.

How to nominate someone

Nominations are submitted by letter. Each letter should explain why the individual is being nominated and how he or she meets the listed criteria. The chamber has set a few requirements:

• Length: Letters must be between 250 and 500 words.
• Your information: Letters must include the name of the person writing the letter and that person’s contact information.
• Deadline: Letters must be submitted no later than Nov. 9.

Letters may be delivered in person to the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce at 138 Wilson Avenue, mailed to 1250 Pineview Drive, Thomasville, AL 36784, or sent by email. Residents who need the chamber’s email address or have questions can contact the chamber office.

Writing a strong nomination

Because the letter is limited to 500 words, nominators will want to make every sentence count. A few suggestions for those preparing a letter:

• Be specific. Name the organizations, projects, events or causes the nominee has supported, and roughly how long he or she has been involved.
• Show the impact. Explain how the nominee’s work has made a difference for neighbors, schools, churches, businesses or the city as a whole.
• Match the criteria. Address community contributions, charitable efforts, character and leadership directly, since those are the standards the chamber has set.
• Cover past and present. The criteria include both past and current community activities, so a nominee’s long record of service can count.
• Check the details. Confirm the letter falls within the 250- to 500-word range and includes your name and contact information.

Key dates

• Now through Nov. 9: Nomination letters accepted
• Nov. 16-20: Community vote
• Dec. 8: Winner announced at the Chamber of Commerce Christmas banquet

Recognizing the people behind a small city

In a small city like Thomasville, much of what makes the community work depends on people who volunteer their time, from coaching youth sports and organizing church and civic events to supporting local schools and helping neighbors in need. Awards like Citizen of the Year give residents a chance to thank those people publicly and to highlight the kind of service that often goes unnoticed.

The annual Christmas banquet, where the 2027 honoree will be revealed, is one of the chamber’s yearly gatherings, bringing together business owners, community leaders and residents to close out the year.

Thomasville, in north Clarke County, has had a busy year of local news, from discussions about the future of the city’s hospital to a planned expansion at the Westervelt sawmill. The Citizen of the Year program offers a chance to turn the spotlight to the residents whose everyday efforts help hold the community together.