2022’s ‘Citizen of the Year’

Published 5:27 pm Monday, March 6, 2023

: Citizen of the Year Steve Edwards delivers remarks at the 2022 banquet Smithfield’s Ruritan and Rotary clubs hosted in his honor. (Photos by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)

Smithfield’s Rotary and Ruritan clubs honored prosecutor Steve Edwards as 2022’s Citizen of the Year on March 1 with a banquet at The Smithfield Center, catered by the Smithfield Station restaurant, hotel and marina. Edwards, in his 20-plus years of prosecuting molestation cases, has come to recognize trauma-informed body language in both horses and humans, and works with victims and first responders by teaching them how to ride on his farm.

: Smithfield Mayor Steve Bowman congratulates Steve Edwards on being 2022’s Smithfield Citizen of the Year, after reading a Town Council resolution commending Edwards for his service.

: Del. Emily Brewer, R-Isle of Wight, presents a House of Delegates resolution to Steve Edwards, honoring him as Smithfield’s 2022 Citizen of the Year.

: Past recipients of the Citizen of the Year Award gather for a group photo. Back row, from left, are Mike Swecker, Carson Cox, William Moore, W. Peyton Barlow, T. Carter Williams and Larry Saint. Front row, from left, are Skip Sharpley, O.A. Spady, Florine Moore and Mary Cole.

: Jake Browder, son-in-law to 2022 Citizen of the Year Steve Edwards, sits with Steve’s father Nelson Edwards, Steve’s oldest daughter, Patricia Edwards, and her fiancé, Matthew Meibers, Steve’s grandchildren and other family members.

: Isle of Wight County Commissioner of the Revenue Gerald Gwaltney sits with Jim Henderson and 2019 Citizen of the Year award recipient Mary Cole at the 2022 Citizen of the Year banquet.