Honorary Chair

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Every year an individual (or a couple) is chosen as the Honorary Chairperson of the A World A'Fair. The honorees selected for this honor either:

01

Members of the festival family who have contributed to its success (i,e, Marillyn Knight, 2017)

02

Have been associated with the festival and/or the youth group and have gone on to accomplish something notable (i.e. Niraj Antani, 2016);

03

Are not directly associated with the festival but have supported it in some significant manner (i.e. Nan Whaley, 2015).

2025 Honorary Chairperson

RAJ SOIN

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Through the years

Past Honorary Chairpersons

2024

Rosetta Schaffner

2023

Six officers assigned to the night shift in Downtown Dayton Oregon District on August 4, 2019.

(These officers were to be the Honorary Chairpersons for the 2020 Festival. Unfortunately, the 2020–2022 Festivals were cancelled due to Covid.)

2019

Wayne Gulden (do I have to wear a tie?)

2018

Walter Rice (here comes the judge!)

2017

Marillyn Knight (again!)

2016

Niraj Antani

2015

Nan Whaley

2014

Cheryl Castro

2013

Crystal Anne Belen

2012

Phi Pham

2011

Carolyn Stovall

2010

Marie Bronius

2009

Mayor Rhine McLin

2008

Patrick Hughes

2007

Mona Cannell

2006

Charles and Theresia Eyman

2005

John Pappas

2004

Anna R. Ctvrtnicek

2003

Richard A. Zimmer, City Commissioner

2002

Don and Sunny Hickey

2001

Karen Sitzman

2000

Marillyn Knight

1999

Wendy Cole

1998

Carl Day, WDTN Channel 2

1997

Sam and Ann Ballinger

1996

Joseph P. Whalen

1995

Jeannine Newhouse

1994

Jerry Schenking

1993

John Cole

1992

Glen E. Compton

1991

Richard B. Metzger

1990

Charles and Terry Eyman

1989

Maryan Caplan

1988

William A. Ademu-John

1987

Elinor Ambrose Sluzas

1986

Thomas F. Folino

1985

Aldona Ryan

1983

Grace Wolff

1982

Ed Hamlyn, WDTN Channel 2

1981

Jack Wymer, WING radio

1980

Lou Emm, WHIO

1979

Fr. Gabriel J. Rus, S.M.