Crawford Knott named 2023 John Penn Citizen of the Year

at Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2023 John Penn Citizen of the Year award to Crawford Knott. Xavier Wortham, a former recipient, delivered a moving speech highlighting Knott’s outstanding dedication to our community. The award was presented by Wortham alongside Rosalyn Green, the 2022 John Penn Citizen of the Year. Crawford is pictured with his family.

Past Recipients of the John Penn Award

Dr. Joseph Colson
Hubert L. Cox
Hubert Gooch
Edward F. Taylor
Mrs. Gladys Satterwhite
Mrs. Robinette Husketh
Rev. Harrison Simons
Rev. G. C. Hawley
John Mackie
Hugh Currin, Sr.
Dr. David Noel
Tom Speed
J. J. Medford
Dr. Roy Noblin
Tom Johnson
John K. Nelms
L Clement Yancey
Mrs. Mildred A. Jenkins
Leonard M. Dunn
Mrs. Virginia Tuck
Mrs. Nancy W. Darden
Dr. Jimmie Morris
Mrs. Carlene Fletcher
Leonard Peace, Sr.
Marshall Tanner
Harold Sherman
Boyce Harvey
Paul Kiesow
Johnsie C. Cunningham
Stan Fox
Doan and Bettie Laursen
Dr. John B. Hardy, Jr.
L. C. Adcock
Mrs. Robinette Husketh
Jim Crawford
Xavier Wortham
Rev. G. C. Hawley
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor
Gary L. Bowman
James and Mary Ann Lumpkins
Laura Seifert Gable
Annette P. Myers
Mark Pace
Rosalyn Green
The Outstanding Citizen Award or Citizen of the Year award was presented in years past.  In 1996, the committee created a new name for the award to honor Granville County’s first and perhaps most outstanding citizen.  Since then, it has been presented as the JOHN PENN CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD in honor of our Granville County citizen who was one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.  On January 10, 1936, the very first state highway marker was erected.  That first marker was placed in the town of Stovall to commemorate the life of this political leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence – John Penn, a native of Granville County.
This prestigious award is indicative of VOLUNTEER SERVICE.