Carlsbad Honors Citizens of the Year

Family, friends, Carlsbad citizens, and the Carlsbad city council gathered Tuesday Nov. 8 at the council chambers to honor the recipients of the annual “Carlsbad Citizen of the Year” award. 

The first recipient, Jim Smith, has lived in Carlsbad since 1983. At 93, he retired only three years ago, and still remains active with the , which he has been a member of since 1984. He is an accomplished Real Estate Agent, having been the owner of “ReMax by the Sea”. He served has served on the city’s planning commission and senior citizen’s commission. His biggest accomplishment was promoting the construction of Carlsbad’s municipal golf course.

The second recipient, Hope Wrisley, also has a long list of accomplishments. As a mother, she was involved in the local PTA, and was a Girl Scouts leader. She recalled an embarrassing event, when she took her troop hiking at Torrey Pines Preserve, not realizing that the trail led out to the clothing-optional Black’s Beach.

Wrisley served on the school board, where Carlsbad mayor Matt Hall said she stood up for what she believed in, and refused to back down. She was also active in bringing to Carlsbad, even embarking on a trip to Denmark. She has served as president of both the and the , and worked on Hall’s mayoral campaign. She still volunteers at Tri-City Medical Center, and as a tour guide for . Wrisley believes "you make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give." She says everyone should lead an active and meaningful life. "Life is a parade, and you can sit on the sidelines and watch it go by, or you can join in." A retired travel agent, Wrisley has five children, 19 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

The ceremony was by followed a coffee and cake reception in the council offices.