The Carrollton Ballroom was filled to capacity Monday night as residents came together to celebrate their successes of the last year and to look forward to the next. Part of that celebration includes recognizing the businesses and individuals who have been instrumental in making Carroll what it is today. These include the newest local entrepreneurs as well as the established businesses that form the bedrock of the local economy. The community comes together to also recognize humanitarian and public service efforts that bring quality of life and quality of place to Carroll. And the evening culminates with the announcement of the Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. The recipient of this award for 2018, however, was unable to be there in person Monday night, but that did not stop last year’s winner, Marty Steffes, from making the presentation. He said it is typical to keep the identity of this person a secret until the very end.
CEO of St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Ed Smith, joined the banquet via Zoom Video Conferencing from Arizona, to hear the nomination and be recognized as the Citizen of the Year. Steffes explained that Smith chose to live in Carroll and has made innumerable contributions since that move to St. Anthony more than 30 years ago. He also served three terms as Mayor, from 2000 to 2006.
Smith is an avid supporter of both school systems and the community’s youth. He is a long-standing member of the Chamber of Commerce and Carroll Area Development Corporation, having served on the boards of both. Smith told the gathered crowd that he was humbled by the award that made Monday even more memorable when it was combined with a first in Smith’s life.
Smith says that one of the reasons his family chose Carroll was that he fell in love with the story.
Smith also said this award doesn’t happen without others. Quite honestly, he said, Monday night was a great example of that with the collaboration that had to take place to pull off the surprise. He thanked his mentors, his colleagues and co-workers, the medical staff, board and Franciscan Sisters for their tireless work and the local city government who has shown their support for not only St. Anthony, but of him as well. We will bring you more from Monday night’s award winners, and tune into 1380 AM and 95.1 FM during the 8 a.m. news hour this week and early next to hear live interviews with the winners.
