1/28/2009 9:14:00 AM Thuottes, Hershelman win chamber honors
An emotional Jerry Thuotte accepts the Citizens of the Year award Sunday at Fort Worden on behalf of himself and his wife, Peggy. The couple led the effort to construct the Port Townsend Aero Museum. Photo by Fred Obee
Sandy Hershelman accepts her award as Business Leader of the Year from the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce. All her efforts are aimed at building a more prosperous Jefferson County, she said. Photo by Fred Obee
By Fred Obee of The Leader
The collaborators behind the Port Townsend Aero Museum were honored Sunday as the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year.
Jerry and Peggy Thuotte, the cofounders of the museum, reacted with the humility they are known for.
"Everyone deserves this more than me," an emotional Jerry Thuotte told the chamber crowd at Fort Worden.
The Aero Museum, a new 18,000-square-foot, $2.5 million building with a graceful, arching roof, opened at the Jefferson County airport in 2007. It houses dozens of restored antique airplanes on three levels.
A former Army drill sergeant and a pilot for United Airlines for 33 years, Jerry, with his wife, Peggy, moved to Jefferson County eight years ago from Enumclaw with a love for restoring old airplanes and a dedication to seeing young people stay off drugs.
In Enumclaw, Jerry trained youngsters in the exacting task of restoring airplanes. In Jefferson County, at the urging of friends who had seen the results of Thuotte's mentoring, he and Peggy bought a hangar, secured contracts to restore old planes and invited young people to come to his shop to learn the craft. Peggy, also a licensed pilot, took on the books, pitched in on teaching aircraft restoration work, particularly fabric, and became a housemother to the young people who work at the museum. Together, they now have a collection of about 30 airplanes.
Business leader Taking home the Tim Caldwell Business Leader of the Year honor was Sandy Hershelman.
"This one's for you," she said, explaining that all her community work is focused on helping Jefferson County move forward and prosper.
Hershelman has more than 20 years of business experience. She has been the executive officer of the Jefferson County Home Builders Association since 2002 and owns Sandy Hershelman Designs, a design and communication company in Port Hadlock. She's active with United Good Neighbors, the Housing Action Plan Network, and the Washington Coalition for Open Government. In 2007, she was an independent candidate for county commissioner.
In that campaign, she became a forceful voice for economic development and good jobs, encouraging light manufacturing and healthy families.
"She just doesn't quit," said one person who nominated her. "Forget the Energizer Bunny and Type A personalities. She's Triple AAA."
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