NORWICH – Tickets are available for a dinner recognizing Fred Miers as the 2016 Distinguished Citizen of the Year and for his outstanding achievements in Chenango County.

Miers will be honored by the local Boy Scouts of America at a dinner to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich. Selection was made for the award by a committee of local citizens which includes past recipients, and is co-chaired by Eric Larsen and Jim Edwards. Last year’s recipient was Eric Larsen.

Miers is a lifelong resident of Chenango County having been born in Norwich. He is the eldest of four sons of Elinor Barnes, a local girl, and Charles O. Miers, a young school teacher from Pennsylvania. Charlie and Elinor raised the boys in Norwich, where Charlie taught at the high school, and is remembered best for teaching thousands of students to drive, and for coaching successful tennis teams for 35 years.

As the son of a teacher, Miers was looked on as a role model by his brothers and peers. He graduated with the class of 1958, serving as vice-president of his senior class and co-captain of the 1957 football team.

After attending SUNY Plattsburgh, Miers entered the U. S. Marine Corps, serving three years and being honorably discharged in 1964. That same year, he joined the Chenango Savings and Loan. After attending the Executive School of Banking at the University of Connecticut, Miers was elected president and a director of the Chenango Savings and Loan in 1969. He continued in that position when his company merged and became Astoria Federal Savings in 1985. After 35 years in banking, Miers retired in 1999.

During his career, Miers served as president of the Savings and Loan League of Central New York, and was a director of the Savings and Loan League of New York State. He was the first recipient of the Zelmer award, which recognizes an outstanding executive of a smaller Savings and Loan in the state.

In addition to his professional career, Miers has served as the president and campaign chairman of the United Way, a director and treasurer of the Norwich Business Improvement District, a member of the City Planning Commission, a member of the City Zoning Board of Appeals, a member of the City Loan Committee, chairman and campaign chairman of the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation, president of the Norwich Family YMCA, and a member of the Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

Presently, Miers is chairman of Board of Trustees of the Norwich Y, a trustee of the Greater Norwich Foundation, a director and treasurer of the Chenango Valley Home, and a Hospice volunteer. He has been a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church all his life, and has served as Warden, a member of the Vestry, Treasurer, and a member of most committees.

Miers has been married for 51 years to Sally Millspaugh, and they have a son, Peter, who is an RN with Surgical Services at the Flagstaff Memorial Center in Arizona. Peter’s wife, Nicole is a physical therapist in Flagstaff.

Although tennis has transitioned to golf, and jogging has transitioned to walking, Fred Miers continues to be active and devoted to his home town, as his father Charlie was. He continues to be an example of dignity and integrity, tempered with a sense of humor, for those who follow.

This is the 31st Annual Distinguished Citizen of the Year dinner benefiting the local Scouting program. Each year, the Scouts recognize local community leaders for their outstanding contribution to the betterment of the community and service to their fellow citizens.

Reservations for the event may be made by contacting the Baden-Powell Council service center at 607-648-7888 or toll free at 1-877-674-8876 and asking for information on the Chenango Distinguished Citizens Award Dinner. Seating is limited, so please send in your reservation early.

-Fred Miers