The program to honor a local citizen annually doing good in the community certainly picked a person who hasn’t limited his actions to just one year, but has been on a long campaign helping people in Polk County.

During the County Commission’s work session on December 7, Commission Chair Hal Floyd called up Donnie Jarrell to the front of the meeting room as the second person honored with the Citizen of the Year award.

Jarrell, who has helped people throughout the years in a variety of ways, is most notable for his continued campaign to keep alive the spirit and memory of Cedartown’s own Hollywood star and voice of Winnie the Pooh, Sterling Holloway.

Along with the proclamation honoring his contributions throughout Polk County, he was also given a plaque honoring his long service to the community, he received a gift basket with items from several local businesses.

He was thankful to be honored by the Commission for his work in the community.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I’ve tried to help people over the years, I can’t say no to nobody when they ask me something. I’m always there to help them, and I’m going to continue doing that…. I’ve never gotten anything like this before, so it means a lot to me.”

He said he’ll continue his campaign to ensure that people remember Holloway and his impact on Polk County. He said among the items he has tried over the decades to get done is have a museum specifically for the actor in Cedartown, and in recent years with the opening of the Polk County Historical Society Museum in Cedartown they have dedicated a room to the actor’s long career and legacy in film and animation.

Jarrell said that he hopes people will continue to lead by his example as well.

The county had 18 nominations for the award this year, and narrowed it down to Jarrell through a committee process. The award was inaugurated through an idea posed by Polk County Police Officer Andy Anderson.