From left, Alice Ann Johnston and her husband, Don, visit with friends Connie and Rick Beach, Wichita, during the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting on Friday. The Johnstons were named Citizen of the Years.

During these days of tougher economic times, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce on Friday night celebrated several longtime community leaders who have dedicated their careers to public service, charity and business.

The winners of the chamber’s annual Citizen of the Years Award — Don and Alice Ann Johnston — said Lawrence could look to the example of its past leaders to help keep the community prosperous.

“That’s what this award is all about. It’s a celebration of the kind of determined, longtime continued effort to keep this community alive and vibrant,” said Don Johnston, executive vice president for Intrust Bank’s northeast Kansas region and a longtime Lawrence businessman.

Alice Ann Johnston is the chairwoman of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center’s endowment, and her philanthropic and charitable positions are extensive.

“I’ve been a volunteer all my life, and I love being a volunteer,” she said. “I love doing the things I do.”

They accepted the award together at the chamber’s annual meeting Friday night at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, before more than 400 people.

Randy Weseman, the Lawrence public schools superintendent who will retire at the end of the school year, won the Buford M. Watson Jr. Public Service Award.

“I’m flattered to be receiving this and particularly from a community like Lawrence,” Weseman said. “This is my home, and I’m very proud to live here and committed to seeing Lawrence prosper.”

Rachel Rademacher, vice president of Rademacher Financial Inc., earned the Wally Galluzzi Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award for her work on the chamber’s envoy committee, which helps new businesses and organizes ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

“It’s a huge honor. (The past winners) are huge volunteers in the community,” she said.

Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, of the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, won the Citizen of the Years Award last year, and Friday she took home the ATHENA Award, sponsored by the chamber and Crown Chevrolet, which honors women leaders.

“Perhaps tonight means more because the women who I follow are women who have made a great difference in this community,” Tacha said.