Long Beach honors workers, Citizen of the Year for 2023

More than one-hundred people gathered for the Long Beach Breakfast with the Mayor event at USM’s Gulf Park campus on October 10, where five of the city’s top first responders were recognized and the 2023 Aline Doherty Citizen of the Year award recipient was announced.

Long Beach firefighter Ricky Skinner was awarded the Long Beach Utility Person of the Year Award. Joe Culpepper with h20 Innovation praised Skinner for his loyalty and dedication on the job before presenting the award to Skinner.

Long Beach Police Chief Billy Seal praised the 2023 Long Beach Police Officer of the Year award recipient Jordan Cutrer for having “a servant’s heart” before presenting Cutrer with the award.

Assistant Chief of the Long Beach Fire Department George Byrd shared accolades for the top-notch work ethic of Long Beach Fire Department Driver Operator Clayton Maxwell before presenting him with the 2023 Long Beach Firefighter of the Year Award.

American Medical Response Chief Dana Thrower praised AMR’s Gregory Doyle for “always going above and beyond” the call of duty during his lengthy career as a first responder before presenting Doyle with the 2023 AMR First Responder of the Year Award.

 The ceremony concluded with a tribute to a long-time familiar face within the City of Long Beach. Mayor George Bass praised the 2023 Aline Doherty Citizen of the Year Award recipient Jimmy E. Levens, III, for his tireless efforts to improve the local community and for “always being the first to step up to the plate” over the decades to help Long Beach citizens, businesses and organizations with their endeavors. Many of Levens’ family members were on hand to help celebrate the distinguished honor at the event.