One of the island’s most eagerly anticipated announcements – and one of its best kept secrets – will be revealed Wednesday when Rotary Club of St. Thomas II announces its Person of the Year at the club’s noon luncheon at Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef Beach Resort.

The popular competition has been going on since 1981, when the club chose its first recipient, Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta. The identity of the recipient has become a hugely popular guessing game encouraged by selection committee chairman Elliott MacIver Davis, who relishes leading folks on, while revealing nary a tidbit of actual information. It is his particular joy.

Not to step out of character, Davis this year was more loquacious than usual. He allowed as to how this year’s 34th recipient embodies all the qualities necessary to receive the coveted Don Quixote statuette, symbolic of the winner’s selfless dedication to the community, which is precisely what he says every year.

He did, actually, reveal one more little item. "The person (here he almost revealed gender, but caught himself) we have chosen is very very, very busy, with an almost impermeable schedule."
There, what a scoop. (As though the committee’s criteria rest on somebody with nothing better to do than come to the Reef for a free lunch.)

Along with keeping the recipient’s identity secret, getting the person in question to the ceremony without raising suspicion has become almost a fine art. All sorts of subterfuges have been employed, and so far, according to the committee, it’s worked 33 times.

"The award is an important part of our service work in the community," said club president Ray Barry in a release Monday. "By this prestigious award, we recognize character, determination and selflessness to encourage these traits in our young people."

Honorees come from a wide swath of the community – philanthropists, a few senators, educators, doctors, entertainers, anyone who has shown himself or herself to have given to the community .

Award committee member Ted Bast said, “Many are nominated, but only one can be chosen."

Previous honorees include Gov. John deJongh Jr., the late Senate President Lorraine Berry, businessman Randy Knight and last year’s recipient, Patricia Murphy Gruber.

Former recipients:
– 2013 Patricia Gruber
– 2012 Scott Bradley
– 2011 Diana White
– 2010 Therese Hodge
– 2009 Candia Petersen
– 2009 Steven van Beverhoudt
– 2007 Cecile deJongh
– 2006 Joe Aubain
– 2005 Suzanne Robinson
– 2004 Rodney Miller
– 2003 LaVerne Ragster
– 2002 Elliot "Mac" Davis
– 2001 Shaun A. Pennington
– 2000 John deJongh Jr.
– 1999 Randy Knight
– 1998 Nick Pourzal
– 1997 Lorraine Berry
– 1996 Vinnie Mohanani
– 1995 Juel T. R. Molloy
– 1994 Edward E. Thomas Sr.
– 1993 Leona Bryant
– 1992 Verne A. Hodge
– 1991 Athniel "Addie" Ottley
– 1990 Dilsa Capdeville
– 1989 Ron de Lugo
– 1988 Irvin "Brownie" Brown
– 1987 Alexander A. Farrelly
– 1986 Dr. Alfred O. Heath
– 1985 Calvin Wheatley
– 1984 Costas Coulianos
– 1983 Dr. Roy L. Schneider
– 1982 Albert A. Aubain
– 1981 Wilbur "Bill" Lamotta