March 14, 2008 — It's time again for perennial literary hero Don Quixote to make his annual appearance on St. Thomas.
A Lladro statuette of Miguel de Cervantes' valiant knight-errant will be presented to the person the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II has deemed most deserving of the honor on March 19 at its noon meeting.
The Rotary Person of the Year will not be selected on the basis of Quixote's "quixotic qualities"; he or she need not tilt at windmills literally, but the person must reflect the knight's generous idealism, his visionary qualities. The honoree must have demonstrated Quixote's determination when flailing at those windmills, in efforts for the good of the community.
Erva Denham, club president, said, "As an important part of our service work in the community, we recognize strength of character and good citizenship to encourage these traits in others." And even Denham is in the dark as to this year's honoree. "It's guarded from all but those who need to know," she said.
Since Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta first received the award in 1981, guessing the Person of the Year has arguably become the island's most popular guessing game. This year is no different; almost nobody knows (and those who do aren't talking).
Person of the Year Committee Chair Elliott MacIver Davis, who traditionally is "the keeper of the big secret," was more close-mouthed than usual this year, which would seem an impossibility. Even last year, between clenched teeth, he allowed that "no one has ever received the award twice."
This year, he answered the phone, and that was about it.
No dice, no hints. The Source will give you a hint: At the end of this story we will print all the previous winners, and according to Mr. Mum, no one can receive the award a second time.
By the way, last year's honoree was first lady Cecile deJongh. Gov. John deJongh received the award a few years earlier, thus unraveling the mystery Davis had implied.
Award committee member Ted Bast said, "As in the past, this year we have received and reviewed numerous nominations during our annual search for the man or woman to be named Person of the Year," therefore shedding about as much light as Davis.
Previous persons of the year: LaMotta, Davis, Albert Aubain, Gov. Roy Schneider, Costas Coulianos, Calvin Wheatley, Dr. Alfred Heath, Gov. Alexander Farrelly, Irvin "Brownie" Brown, Delegate Ron de Lugo, Dilsa Capdeville, Athniel "Addie" Ottley, Judge Verne Hodge, Leona Bryant, Edward Thomas, Juel Molloy, Vinnie Mohanani, Sen. Lorraine Berry, Nick Pourzal, Randy Knight, John P. DeJongh Jr., Shaun Pennington, Laverne Ragster, Rodney Miller, Suzanne Robinson, Joseph Aubain and Cecile deJongh.
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