Glendora Chamber of Commerce Honors 2011 Citizen of the Year

Glendora resident Jim Riley has been giving back to his community for more than 30 years.

It’s his decades of dedication to the Glendora community that has earned him the recognition of the’s 2011 Citizen of the year.

Jim has been involved in service to the Glendora for nearly 35 years beginning in the early 1970's when Jim joined the Glendora Junior Chamber of Commerce, or Jaycees as they were known.  While with the Jaycees, Jim not only participated in its many projects, but chaired most if not all of them including the , Flashback to the 50's, The Great Glendora Festival and The Miss Glendora Pageant.

Riley served on the Glendora Police Department from 1968 to 1999 and during his career, he founded a program called "Santa's Visits.”  In 1978 he was selected by his peers as Police Officer of the Year.

For more than 20 years, Riley has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America program in excess of twenty years, having been recognized nationally as the recipient of the Boy Scout Organization's top Volunteer Service Award, The Silver Beaver.  He has been involved in all volunteer levels including being active with local troops from the Tiger Cubs through Cub Scouts, Weblos, Boy Scouts, and the BSA Explorer Scout Program.  He has served tirelessly at the District level which includes scouting throughout the San Gabriel Valley. 

After twenty years he is still volunteering to serve the youth of the San Gabriel Valley Council.  In addition to the above, Jim has also chaired Foothill Presbyterian Hospital's Spring Run, and volunteers at the Relay for Life Event and for the .

Jim Riley will be honored at a banquet in his honor on Thursday, April 19 at the Glendora Country Club.  Reservations are $45 and are required.   Tickets will not be issued, but beginning March 19, those who prepay will be placed on a reservation list.  For more information, or to make a reservation, visit the Glendora Chamber of Commerce at 131 E. Foothill Blvd., or contact the Chamber at 626-963-4128.