Citizen of the Year, Tom Owen, recognized at City Council Meeting and Reception

The Chesterfield City Council and Mayor Bob Nation recognized Tom Owen as the 2015 Citizen of the Year at the March 21 City Council meeting.  A reception followed the meeting where friends, family, community supporters and numerous Boy Scouts met to thank Mr. Owen for his service to his community and congratulate him on the award. Citizen of the Year recipients are recognized for their benefit to the City of Chesterfield through volunteerism, working on community projects, and overall civic contributions to the community.   A Citizens Selection Committee comprised of citizen committee and community volunteers presented their recommendation to the City Council following their review of several nominations.        

Mr. Owen was nominated by Daniel Koschoff who acknowledged his many years of dedication to developing young leaders through Boy Scouting.  Mr. Owen has been a Scoutmaster of Troop 597 for 16 years, a role in which most only serve for three.  He has helped over 35 young men to earn the highest rank in scouting of Eagle Scout.  Only three in one hundred boys who enter Scouting ever achieve this rank.  “The Eagle Scouts Tom has mentored and continues to inspire, have grown up to be teachers, seminarians, and business leaders,” said Mr. Koschoff.  “Because of this, Tom has not only affected the lives of these young men, but also the lives these young men impact.”  Many have returned to scouting to become adult leaders for the next generation. 

Due to the requirement of the Boy Scouts to learn about the importance citizenship and actively participate in their communities, Mr. Owen has involved them in countless service projects in the community, including Chesterfield Earth Day Recycling events, clean up events at Faust Park and along area roadways, singing carols to residents of Delmar Gardens and many other volunteering events. 

Mr. Owen has lived in Chesterfield since 1996 and served as a trustee in the Baxter Lakes Subdivision from 2002-2011.  He and his wife have three children and are members of Ascension Parish, the chartering organization for Boy Scout Troop 597. 

Photo courtesy of Jim Erickson with West Newsmagazine.