The city of Anna Maria has chosen a resident to bestow with the honor of citizen of the year: longtime volunteer advocate and historical preservation champion Jack Brennan.
A four-person panel unanimously selected Brennan Dec. 2 over two other candidates, citing Brennan’s willingness to volunteer as their reasons.
The panel was selected by Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and included Bob Carter, husband of city commissioner Carol Carter, Irene Pearman, Mary Manion and Ruth Uecker.
Brennan will be recognized in a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, before the 6 p.m. commission meeting. The ceremony will be open to the public.
“It’s very nice … I had to figure out, is this real or not? Is someone pulling my leg?” Brennan said.
Brennan said he and his wife, Lynn, set out to do volunteer work when they retired and moved to Anna Maria full time four years ago after more than 20 years visiting the island.
Since moving, Brennan said he and his wife have met about 2,000 people through their volunteer efforts.
Brennan’s volunteer experience includes: managing the operations of Roser Memorial Community Church’s food pantry, beach cleanup efforts with Reef Medics, maintenance work for the Anna Maria Island Historical Society. He also spent several recent months helping Anna Maria prepare its historical preservation efforts.
He is the vice president of the AMI Community Development Fund led by Commissioner Carol Carter and has helped with a Home Sweet Home initiative led by Carter, Holmes Beach Commissioner Jean Peelen and former Bradenton Beach Commissioner Janie Robertson.
Brennan said he and his wife, who was on the committee to select the 2015 citizen of the year, had discussed who should win the award, but had not nominated anyone before the deadline.
“I have no clue why I was selected … I’m thrilled. It’s different. Never thought it could happen,” Brennan said.
Murphy said Brennan is a “long-term contributor to the city” and described him as a “champion of historical preservation in Anna Maria.”