James Giese Named Outstanding Citizen of the Year

Greenbelters were buzzing Friday night as they waited to hear who among them would be named this year's outstanding citizen.

An annual tradition, the announcement of the outstanding citizen award has been a much-anticipated moment of the Labor Day Festival's opening ceremony since 1973.

Prior to the announcement, Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown presented a proclamation to the mayor, in honor of this year's festival.

"You have a lot to be proud of in the City of Greenbelt," Brown said.

"This is a hometown event we truly appreciate," Mayor Judith "J" Davis said. "It takes the entire community to create this kind of event."

Bob Zugby, chairman of the Outstanding Citizen Selection Committee, then took the stage and announced this year's winner, 80-year-old James Giese.

A surprised Giese was sitting in the front row with his wife, Bernina. Once announced, Giese stood up and waved to the crowd of people behind him.

"If I had known this was going to happen, I would have worn a different shirt," Giese said at the start of his acceptance speech. "I was making barbecue for Luncheon on the Lawn this morning, so some of the barbecue sauce is still on it."

But no sauce was evident, just the T-shirt's slogan, "GREENBELT IS GREAT" — a fitting message from someone who has just been selected as the city's outstanding citizen.

After being the Greenbelt city manager for 28 years, Giese retired in 1991. He had lived in the city since 1963 but moved last fall with his wife to Collington Life Care Center in Mitchellville. But the couple is still active in the community.

"We do love it," Bernina Giese said about Greenbelt. "We wish there was a place like [Collington] in Greenbelt."

If such a center existed here, she said, they would not have moved.

Giese's involvement in the city not only included his service in the government. He has also been a volunteer at the city's museum and arts center. He is also a writer, editor and board member for the Greenbelt News Review.

"I've known Jim and Bernie for some years, and when you talk about good people — decent people, honorable people who are committed — there are not two people that fit that category better than Jim and Bernie," Maryland Senator Paul G. Pinsky (D-District 22) said as the crowd applauded.

"You have been the recipient of their good will, their services, their commitment, their niceness. And they're fine, fine people, and it's really a privilege to be here this evening."

Zugby said a person's dedication and amount of volunteer activities are considerations for choosing the outstanding citizen of the year.

"This is the first time I think we've actually selected a city employee," Zugby said, noting that Giese retired 19 years ago.

When asked what he likes about Greenbelt and why he has devoted so much of his life to it, Giese said it was the citizens.

"They are smart, intelligent, caring. They are not ostentatious," he said.

In his speech, Giese said if it were up to him, he would have chosen his wife, Bernina, as the outstanding citizen because she's as "green as they come."

"Both Bernie and I were proud to be citizens of Greenbelt. And for both of us, I thank you for this award," he said as he held back tears and sat next to his wife on stage.