December is not only a time to celebrate the holidays but also a time to reflect on events of the past year. Back in 2007 with our first-ever Wacoan of the Year award, we began recognizing individuals who have had a significant impact on Waco during a given year. Our growing list of honorees includes men and women, people in education, the arts and this year, college sports.

As each year winds down, we begin discussions about who might be our next recipient. Some of our Wacoans of the Year have been well known, and others are individuals who work quietly to make our city a place we can all be proud of. We wish that this title could come with all sorts of tangible benefits, however, we hope that using space in our publication to spread the word about these remarkable Wacoans will suffice.

One thing we do feel the need to apologize for is the “curse” that comes with being named Wacoan of the Year. With every award we’ve bestowed, a short time after receiving the award, the individual inevitably leaves Waco or his or her position of work.

After being named our first Wacoan of the Year, Scott Baker resigned as executive director of the Hippodrome and now resides in Nashville. Bobby Gilliam, the former president of the Methodist Children’s Home, has retired since receiving the honor. A former Baylor Law School professor, Mark Osler now teaches at the University of St. Thomas Law School in Minnesota.

As you can see, it’s really a curse for Wacoans, not the recipients, since we are the ones to lose such important leaders. But wait! There is good news: It seems that the curse is weakening.