Saratoga News

Gets things done: Warren Lampshire

Chamber names Lampshire its 1997 Citizen of the Year

By Sarah Lombardo

Saratoga resident Warren Lampshire just gets things done, according to fellow resident Dick Wood. So when it came time to nominate a Citizen of the Year, Wood said he couldn't think of a better person.

"This is one guy who's not afraid to step up to the plate and get a job done," Wood said. "He's very intense, and very committed--especially to the youth."

Apparently, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce agreed, recently naming Lampshire the 1997 Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. A dinner in Lampshire's honor is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, and the Chamber is already taking reservations from interested residents.

"I think it's fantastic," Lampshire said. "It's a great, great surprise."

But with some 25 organizations, committees and events for which Lampshire has volunteered over the years--including playing Santa for a number of Saratoga Rotary Club Christmas events and participating in the Saratoga birthday party--some who know Lampshire said it shouldn't be such a surprise.

"There are just so many instances when he steps up and just does it," Wood said.

Many think one of the most important of those instances was when the Saratoga Community Parade almost didn't happen. The parade, held off and on throughout the years, became an annual event in 1995, when Lampshire was on the Steering Committee. Both in 1995 and '96, Lampshire, who moved here with his wife, Yvonne, from Millbrae in 1968, helped out with the event.

But in 1997, insufficient funds from the city in the wake of massive budget cuts left the parade without financing.

Lampshire said he got a number of calls from people who were disappointed that there had been no community parade, and so in November 1997, he began making plans for 1998--and vowed to hold a parade with or without city funds.

And on Oct. 4, there will be a parade.

Wood said Lampshire has done all the work without asking for recognition. "He's not one who's looking for the limelight," he said.

"I just think there are many people who are deserving of it, and none of them are me," Lampshire said.

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