SEQUIM — Jim Pickett, known for his long-standing involvement and passion for helping the community, was named the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce 2010 Citizen of the Year on Tuesday.

Dick Hughes, nominated for his involvement in the Sequim Education Foundation and other youth help organizations, and Joe Borden, a longtime Irrigation Festival volunteer, were honored with Community Service Awards during the chamber’s annual awards luncheon at SunLand Golf & Country Club.

The awards have been given to hard-working volunteers since 1968, and prior winners make up the selection committee.

Accepting the award from 2009 recipient Tom Schaafsma, Pickett recalled that he was an award nominee in 1998.

“So if you stick around long enough, it pays off,” joked Pickett, a retired educator, in his trademark Texas twang, drawing laughs from the audience of at least 75.

Nell Clausen of Estes Builders, who nominated Pickett, said she met him through the Rotary Club and considered him “a friend and a mentor for the rest of my life.”

Pickett: Plays Santa

Pickett has a history of volunteer work with United Way of Clallam County, has supported local schools and served on the Sequim Park Advisory Board and with Olympic Peninsula Baywatchers and Friends of the Library.

The man who plays Santa at holiday breakfasts for both seniors and children in Sequim can also be found doing manual labor for volunteer projects around the city, such as helping with the maintenance of Olympic Discovery Trail.

As a member of the Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club, Pickett has aggressively promoted the ShelterBox program that provides temporary tent shelters and survival supplies to victims of disasters around the world.

“Forty ShelterBoxes were purchased by Rotary,” Clausen said, calling it “an amazing feat.”

Each box costs $1,000, and Pickett’s club has been recognized as being among Rotary’s top five fundraisers around the world for ShelterBoxes.

Pickett’s involvement in Sequim goes far beyond Rotary and making kids and seniors happy as the jolly elf.

Pickett moved to Sequim in 1993 after he retired as superintendent of the Galveston School District in Texas.

Hughes was nominated by Elna Kawal for his involvement in the Sequim Education Foundation, Rotary Club, Sequim Wolf Pack Youth Football, Sequim Middle School Interact Club, Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic and as a volunteer.

Hughes: A rare doer

Kawal said Hughes is “one who likes to stay in the background,” instead preferring to “launch people” into volunteerism.

“He’s dedicated his life to helping others,” Kawal said. “He’s one of the rare doers in the world.”

Besides youth football, she said, Hughes promotes academics, reading one-on-one with schoolchildren.

“Dick has been instrumental in building a future for thousands of children,” she said.

Borden was nominated by Debra Rambo Sinn for his involvement in the Irrigation Festival, the Chamber of Commerce board and various committees, the Patriotic Guard Riders, the city of Sequim Centennial Committee and other volunteer efforts.

Borden: A volunteer

“He volunteers for everything,” Rambo Sinn said. “He even says yes to icky things like budget committees.”

Best-known for his longtime labor of love, the Sequim Irrigation Festival, Borden has chaired the festival for six years, Rambo Sinn said.

He helps build the parade float on which Sequim’s festival queen and princesses ride down Washington Street in May and around the state the rest of the year.

Rambo Sinn joked that she felt safer around Sequim because Borden teaches seniors defensive driving.

Borden moved to Sequim in 1986 with his family.

The selection committee named the top three finalists from a pool of Sequim citizens nominated by members of the community.

Finalists are chosen based on their history of outstanding volunteer service to the Sequim community.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.