BANKS CITIZENSHIP AWARD 

Congratulations to Steve & Diane Zmolek - 2025 Banks Citizenship Award Recipients. 

Read at the November 11, 2025 City Council Meeting Presentation

Steve and Diane have been largely blessed calling rural Banks their home for nearly 50 years. Their first date was 60 years ago today. On a 1975 vacation to Diane's family roots homeland, Tigard, Oregon, they decided to move back here because of the country, the seasons, and slower pace.

They began building their little farm from the ground up in 1977 after having discovered the bare property by chance on a country drive. Steve made the trek to Portland on Highway 26 for 45 years where he worked for both Blitz Weinhard and Good Samaratin Hospital, serving as Facilities Chief Engineer before his retirement. They commuted together for 20 years while Diane grew her career in the electronics industry. Later, she served nearly 20 years with the Banks Post Office starting out as a "temp" and carrying both Route 1 & 2, then taking over delivering Route 2 full time as well as training 500 new rural carriers for the State of Oregon at the rural academy in Wilsonville. They raised their family here, plus horses, ponies and dogs, went to church in Roy, and watched their children graduate from Banks High School, two of them then serving in the US Navy, before settling happily in near by communities, and the youngest becoming a successful music teacher in local districts.

So, here they are today, as senior citizens, proudly accepting this community recognition after an unplanned adventure, the dairy commemorative project, that has brought tributes to the pioneer dairy families of the Tuality Plains. It has been an amazing 9 months. Those of us who have followed this effort have all discovered more than we ever imagined about this beautiful, historical chapter in the region, and bringing some of the past to the present, reaquainting with dear friends, and making many new ones, some of which are here today. Steve and Diane believe the pioneer descendants are the true recipients of the Citizens of the Year Award, and want to thank you for letting them be a part of that celebration.

 

 

2026 Banks Citizenship Award information:

And The Nominees Are: Nomination information and forms will be available starting on September 1, 2026. Nomination forms are due by September 30, 2026.  The winning candidate will be notified by phone after October 30, 2026.  Please provide all information listed on the nomination form, so that we may contact you in the event your candidate is selected to receive the Banks Citizenship Award for 2026.  A presentation of the award will be made at the November 10, 2026, City Council Meeting.

Our Nomination Process: Nominations from the public are the first step in the selection process.  Anyone may nominate any citizen living in Banks or the surrounding area for consideration for the Banks Citizenship Award.  Nominations should be based on volunteer service, and community involvement within the Banks Community.

After all nominations are received from the public, the nominations will be reviewed by the mayor, who will then select the candidate that will be awarded the Banks Citizenship Award for 2026. 

Please Do NOT nominate past recipients of the Banks Citizenship Award.  Employees or Elected Officials of the City of Banks are not eligible for nomination.

Our Selection Criteria

The Banks Citizenship Award is awarded annually to a citizen of Banks or the surrounding area who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Exemplifies a life dedicated to the Banks’ way of hard work, self-improvement, and community service.
  • Embodies the spirit of philanthropy while showing a remarkable commitment in both their personal and professional lives to improving the City of Banks.
  • Preserves, celebrates, and promotes the richness of history, tradition, and values of our great City, while working to create a better world for all of us in the future by the work they do today.
  • Shares gifts with the community to boost recognition of the City of Banks.

 

Banks Citizenship Award Recipients

2012 - Jim Hough                                             2024 - Zach & Rhonda King

2013 - Kathie Jackson & Jim Lucas                 2025 - Steve & Diane Zmolek

2014 - Raymond Deeth

2015 - Mark Ward

2016 - Marion Steinbach

2017 - Mel & Becky Clark

2018 - Shirley Javorsky

2019 - David Duyck

2020 - Leslee Sipp

2021 - Josh & Melissa Merritt

2022 - Margaret Holland

2023 - Clint Jackson