Well known Kings County photographer named Hanford Chamber's Citizen of the Year

Gary Feinstein, a fixture at many of Kings County’s historic events, accepted his award during a drive-thru ceremony on Oct. 14 in the parking lot on Douty Street next to the Old Courthouse and Bastille.

The Hanford Chamber, during its annual awards event, also recognized a number of Hanford notables, including:

• Business of the Year, Kings Gun Center
• Nonprofit of the Year, Champions Recovery
• Teen of the Year, Parker Buwalda
• Female Citizen of the Year, Michelle Brown
• Male Citizen of the Year, Gary Feinstein
• Volunteer of the Year, Theresa Diaz
• First Responder of the Year, FF Connor Kurtz
• First Responder of the Year, Jeff Schneider

Feinstein, whose photos over the past few decades, have chronicled Kings County and Lemoore events, was honored to be named this year’s Male Citizen of the Year.

“This event was one of the top moment’s in my life, and I will keep it in my heart for as long as I live,” he said. “To be honored by this city as a top member of the community means more to me than I can express.”

Feinstein arrived in Hanford in November 1984 after graduating from San Jose State with a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism. He’s been here ever since.

The annual event, similar to Lemoore’s Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner, where an annual citizen of the year is announced, is normally held sometime in the spring, but due to COVID-19, it was decided to do a drive-thru event.