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Citizen of Year

The American Legion                            “Veterans STILL SERVING AMERICA”

 

   “It behooves us to rear new standards of success, to inspire youth in peace as youth was inspired in war. Public honor must be given, where public honor is due; not to the manipulator of a market, the seeker after profit, power or position; but rather, let us honor the heroes of science who alleviate human suffering and carry to greater heights the standards of civilization.
   “Let us honor those who in public service seek not how much they may secure from the nation but how much they can give. Let us honor those who devote their lives to that education, which will lead our children on to live and laugh and learn and love, as we have only dreamed of doing. Let us honor those veterans who carry into ordinary affairs of life a noble idealism and sincere capacity for self-devotion. Let us translate the devotion of war into a devotion of peace. Let us will to live as well as die for our Country.” American Legion Manual of Ceremonies

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2011 Citizen of Year

 
Andy Kiral
  
 
The Euclid Citizen of the Year 2011 is Andy Kiral. He is one of a group of Vietnam Era Veterans that has the spirit of  “Veterans Still Serving America” tradition of our earlier WW I and WW II forefathers. He is a Member of Euclid Post 343 American Legion, the Euclid Veterans Club, the Forty&Eight.
 For over 30 years Andy Kiral has been Secretary of the Euclid Joint Veterans Council, [which runs one of Euclid's best traditions, the Euclid Memorial Day Services and Parade], a member and/or Chairman of the Euclid American Legion Citizen of the Year committee, Executive Board member of the Euclid American Legion, 4 time Commander of Euclid Post, and the last few years Adjutant of Euclid Post.

 

 

AMERICAN LEGION POST 343

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

1956

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MAYOR KENNETH J. SIMS

Euclid Mayor

1957

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GERALD J. SULLIVAN

Euclid Police Chief

1958

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JUDGE WILLIAM BURNS

Euclid Municipal Judge

1959

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DR. W.G. FORDYCE

Euclid School Superintendent

1960

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JAY W. COLLINS

Euclid General Hospital Manager

1961

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MAYOR HARRY J. KNUTH

Euclid Mayor

1962

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ANTHONY V. VACCARIELLO

Euclid Teacher - Coach

1963

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WALTER NASON

Euclid Service Dir - Friend of Veterans

1964

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DR. RUSSELL M. BALDWIN

Champion of Euclid Youth

1965

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LOWELL DAVIS

Euclid School Treasurer

1966

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WILLIAM TOMKO

Euclid Board of Education President

1967

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ED L. “Bud” DAVISON

Euclid Baseball Volunteer

1968

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CHIEF FRANK PAYNE

Euclid Police Chief

1969

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JOSEPH FONDRAN

Veterans Counselor

1970

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WILLIAM DEMPSEY

Euclid’s “Downtown” Police Patrolman

1971

 

JUDGE ROBERT F. NICCUM

Euclid Municipal Judge

1972

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DR, SPARKY DiBIASIO

Euclid School Superintendent

1973

 

PAUL SERRA

Euclid Baseball Coach and Teacher

1974

 

NO AWARD

NO AWARD

1975

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JOSEPH BANA

Euclid Public Library Director

1976

 

DEL TEKIELI

Euclid Education Administrator - Chamber of Commerce Pres.

1977

 

MAYOR TONY SUSTARSIC

Euclid Mayor

1978

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WALTER SCHWEGLER

Euclid Teacher - Coach

1979

 

CHARLES HILL

Euclid Businessman - Multiple Volunteer

1980

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MAYOR ANTHONY GIUNTA

Euclid Mayor

1981

 

DOROTHY J. BURKHART

Euclid Councilwoman 

1982

 

TED J. THEODORE

Euclid Teacher - Voice Coach

1983

 

MICHAEL KOSMETOS

Euclid Council President

1984

 

DAVID LAWRENCE

Euclid Board of Education President

1985

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REV. ROBERT B. CLAPP

Euclid Clergy - Multiple Volunteer

1986

 

D. FAY MILLER

Euclid Councilwoman and Teacher

1987

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LESTER HERTZ

Euclid Auxiliary Police Director

1988

 

EDWARD CARPENTER

C.A.B.A. Baseball Director

1989

 

MAYOR DAVID M. LYNCH

Euclid Mayor

1990

 

ROBERT SMITH

Euclid Football All-American

1991

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LAWRENCE 0. FUERST

Wade Park VAVS Volunteer

1992

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JOHN IACOFANO

Culinary School Founder

1993

 

JOSEPH P. MAYER

Euclid Teacher - Alumni Coordinator

1994

 

RALPH E. TANNER

Euclid Hunger Center Manager

1995

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WILLIAM R. WILLERT

Euclid Joint Vets Council Treasurer

1996

 

RAY FISHER

Euclid Baseball Coach

1997

 

OFFICER ED BONCHAK

Euclid D.A.R.E Police Officer

1998

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RAYMOND C. HENDERSHOT

Euclid Boy Scout Leader

1999

 

MAYOR PAUL OYASKI

Euclid Mayor

2000

 

JOHN “Buddy” LANGDON

Euclid Softball Hall of Fame Founder

2001

 

MARY LOU JOST

Euclid Auxiliary Police Director – Multiple Volunteer

2001

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RICHARD JOST

Multiple Volunteer - Veterans Advocate

2002

 

JUDGE DEBORAH A. LeBARRON

Euclid Municipal Judge

2003

 

JUNE DAUGHTERY

Community Volunteer

2004

 

ELLEN IVORY

Euclid Hunger Center Manager

2005

 

DOROTHY FIKE

Multiple Volunteer - Conservationist

2006

 

ROBERT TILK

Multiple Volunteer

2007

 

MAYOR BILL CERVENIK

Euclid Mayor

2008

 

KATHY WILL

Euclid Recreation Director

2009

 

MARY “DOLLY” LUSKIN

Community Volunteer - Shore Cultural Centre, IrishAmerican Club

2010

 

SHERRIE ZAGORC

Community Volunteer - Kiddie City Child Care, E. 200th Street Stroll

2011

 

ANDY KIRAL

Veteran Volunteer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Deceased

 

 

 

 

 

Euclid American Legion Post 343  20750 Arbor Ave Euclid, Ohio 44123   Email