Bob Stephens says if Lawrence wants to continue to be a great town, its young people have to get — and stay — involved.

The chairman of the board and CEO of Stephens Real Estate Inc. is certainly a good example to follow. Named Citizen of the Years by the Chamber of Commerce, Stephens, 66, has lived in Lawrence for 40 years. During that time he built a business that presently employs more than 50 real estate agents.

With his wife, Mary Kay, he raised four children — all of whom graduated from Kansas University and married KU grads.

He’s served on seemingly countless boards. Just a scan of Stephens’ resume reveals stints as president for the Lawrence Optimist Club and the Douglas County Cancer Society. He’s also served on boards for First Presbyterian Church, United Fund and Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Most recently he’s devoted hours to the Douglas County Development Corp.

“Bob’s just always involved, and he always has been over the years,” said Cathy Lewis, vice president of membership for the Chamber of Commerce.

Now a snowbird who spends part of the year in Arizona, Stephens has stayed interested in the community, and as a member of the development corporation he said his top goals were economic development and education.

After all, eight of his 11 grandchildren are enrolled in Lawrence schools, and the community needs to welcome new industry to avoid becoming stagnant.

Bob Stephens, chairman of the board and CEO of Stephens Real Estate Inc., has been named Lawrence Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Years.

Stephens said he was “overwhelmed” upon learning that he was Citizen of the Years. He also said it was especially meaningful because his friend the late Bob Billings received the honor last year.

“I’m very excited about it,” he said. “I feel like I really don’t deserve it.”

Asked what caused him to be so involved, he laughed. It was probably not a very wise move, he said.

But then he turned serious.

“Lawrence and Douglas County have been so good to myself and my family that I felt like, hey, I have to give something back to these people,” he said.