Gallery: Lemoore gathers again to honor the community's best at Chamber dinner

Saturday, January 19, 2019 - 2:07pm By Ed Martin, Editor

There is something special about coming together occasionally to honor those who serve their community. Since 1959, when the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce began honoring a “Citizen of the Year,” the decades since have seen a change in the way Lemoore awards its most deserving citizens.

The honors eventually were spread around, from local organizations to businesses, and finally last year, a new category: Public Safety Individual of the Year.

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Beginning in 1959, a proud and deserving citizen, usually a pillar of the community, was called up and feted, often to standing ovations – from the first “Citizen,” Burton Lowe – to Friday night’s latest rendition: Dr. Willie Ewing.

For Ewing, as were his predecessors since 1959, the reception was no different.

And quite often, it’s been quite the show, and Friday night’s effort, orchestrated by Lemoore Chamber of Commerce Executive Amy Ward and staff, was no exception as over 300 persons honored this year’s group of distinguished awardees.

Until just recently, the selection of the Citizen of the Year was a mystery until the final moments, and often brought a smile and sometimes was a surprise to many.

Oh, how times have changed. In 1988 the Chamber branched out, recognizing outstanding organizations, beginning that year with the Lemoore Officers’ Wives Club, and this year bringing attention to the Lemoore High School’s Future Farmers of America Guide Dog Program.

In 1995 the local chamber spread its wings again. It began honoring local businesses, starting the process with local accountant Tracy Bressler. In 2019, Sunny Law and his Sushi Table Asian Bistro accepted the honor.

On Friday night, in the massive Bingo Hall atop the Tachi Palace Casino & Hotel, over 300 enthusiastic chamber members, friends, and family gathered for discourse, discussion, good food, and entertainment, the primary event, of course, the honoring of the Citizen of the Year, Ewing, whose “fate” had been known for months.

But before the culminating “Citizen” award, a gaggle of local officials including recently-elected Congressman TJ Cox and State Senator Mellissa Hurtado stepped to the podium and honored the well-deserving recipients. The awards began with the Organization of the Year Award, presented to Lemoore High School’s FFA Guide Dog Program, which has trained guide dogs since 1989, ultimately delivering them to for San Rafael’s Guides for the Blind, eventually distributing them to needy recipients.

Since 1989 Lemoore High FAA members have trained hundreds of dogs that have gone on to serve the blind.

The festivities, however, began when Senator Hurtado swore in the new officers, including new Chairperson Frances Perkins.

The highlight and culmination of the evening was of course the recognition of Ewing, a longtime physician and former Navy flight surgeon, who during his more than 40 years in practice in Lemoore, has volunteered as a team doctor for Riverdale and Lemoore high schools, while also coaching local high school softball, baseball and basketball. He still is active as a coach for daughter Dionne Ewing, Lemoore High’s varsity softball coach.

“He’s very popular,” said last year’s Citizen of the Year Ernie Smith who introduced Ewing. “He’s touched the lives of other people in many ways, as a coach, a team doctor, and students at Lemoore High School and Riverdale High.”

Ewing, a proud smile emblazoned on his face, recounted his arrival in Lemoore as a Navy flight surgeon and recited his long career, one that has lasted nearly 40 years as a local family physician. “Almost 40 years later I’m still here,” he said.

He recounted his experiences coach his talented children, son Chris in baseball and daughter Dionne in softball.

He explained his work philosophy as a family doctor. “I like for my patients to know me,” he said. “I want to know them.”

He continued: “Every day you get a chance to change someone’s life. This is the greatest thing that has happened to me,” he said of the Citizen of the Year Award.

He pointed to his wife, Janice, a longtime Lemoore High School teacher. “I’m going to share this with her,” he said proudly. “I really appreciate it.”

Other honorees included restaurateur Sunny Law, who with wife Fanny, operate several restaurants, including two in Lemoore: the Sushi Table in the Save Mark Shopping Center and Bobo Island, a small eatery near downtown, across the street from The Stadium Cinemas. Last year he opened the 201 Kitchen, a Japanese poke bowl restaurant in Hanford.

Law is a friendly, always smiling business owner who also happens to be a trained chef, learning his craft at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). He proudly accepted the award.

“I like cooking, and I like to eat,” he proclaimed to the laughing audience. “This means a lot to me.”

Only the second Public Safety Individual Award was handed out Friday night, this time to Lemoore Volunteer Fireman Abimael Shiyomura who has been with the department for nearly four years. Shiyomura said he enjoys the public aspect of the job, particularly when he gets to work with kids and schools. “We give back to Lemoore,” he said of his partnership with his fellow firemen.

He said the “middle of the night’ calls that often involve medical aid, can be demanding, but he enjoys the work. “Then we have to do our regular jobs,” he said.

“We have such a big bond and a brotherhood,” he said of his fellow firefighters.