COLTON -- Sally Thomas of South Colton has been named the Colton Citizen of the Year.

Once a year at the annual Winterfest, the Virginia Smith Memorial Award is presented to a citizen demonstrating outstanding community service.

Sally’s community service has included operation of the Zion Food Pantry, serving as a member of the church vestry, warden, organizing the United Thank Offering, maintaining several gardens including the one at “Sunday Rock” in South Colton, and working at church suppers and bazaars as well as Colton Country Days.

She was a member of the Colton Hepburn Library Board and co-chaired Colton’s “An American Revolution Bi-centennial Project”. In 1998, she was named Senior of the Year by the St. Lawrence County Senior Citizens’Council.

Most recently Sally undertook a very ambitious project. “Sunday Rock” is an important landmark in the Town of Colton, one that carries a great deal of history with it. Sally, fearing for the preservation of the landmark, undertook to get it added to the state and national registers of historic places.

Rocks have not been awarded this designation in the past, but this was a special rock. Sally persisted, overcoming one obstacle after another until this past fall the designation was granted. In addition to the beautiful flowers surrounding the “Rock” there is now a marker bearing testament to its heritage.

Sally is a native Coltonian who has been active in her church and community. Born in South Colton to John and Hilda Swift, the second of five children. She attended Colton schools while her family operated a farm and a general store in South Colton. After graduation, she attended the Eastman School of Dentistry. Following completion of her education she worked as a dental hygienist at Dr. Hart’s office and at Colton-Pierrepont and Parishville Hopkinton schools.

William Thomas became Sally’s husband and over the next 55 years they raised three children, Rod, Cathy and Peter. They have seven grandchildren. Together they donated countless hours to community projects.

Sally became a business owner operating “The Stall Gift and Antique Shop” and an author, contributing to “Colton:Story of a Town”.