Naperville American Legion Post 43 presented their first Citizen of the Year award in 1976. It became an annual award in 1986. The Naperville Community is blessed with many people who serve their fellow citizens. Those selected must be Naperville residents whose service was performed in a volunteer capacity, rather than as part of compensated employment. In April of 2001 Don Hennessy was named American Legion Post #43 Citizen of the Year.
Don Hennessy served in U.S. Army Reserves from 1950 – 1960. For two of those years (1955-1957 he was placed on active duty and spent 15 months in Korea. Don was a longtime attorney and DuPage County Associate Judge. He served Post #43 as Judge Advocate and provided legal advice. He took charge of the annual High School Oratorical Contest in 2000. At the time he was presented with this award he had organized two contests.
