Citizen of the Year nomination tells Nesbitt’s story

Rick Nesbitt was awarded the Eunice Rotary Club’s 2019 Citizen of the Year Award on Wednesday.
John Pucheu, chairman of the club’s Citizen of the Year committee, presented the award.
The Rotary Club was founded in 1924 and has given the Citizen of the Year award since 1942.
Nesbitt was nominated by Angela Huckaby of Eunice. Nesbitt moved to Eunice 16 years ago and has called Eunice home. Nesbitt began his journey to Eunice while he was working for Roger Cavaness, a native of Eunice, and he owned radio stations in Alexandria and had KEUN, and KJJB. Nesbitt, living in Alexandria at the time, drove back and forth to Eunice for his work.
Nesbitt grew up in Bessemer City, North Carolina, not far from Charlotte. He attended Bessemer City High School and studied at Gaston College.
He caught the “radio bug” at an early age and had a lot of fun becoming a DJ in resort areas of the Carolina shore. At some point, Nesbitt decided to make radio his career instead of just a part-time job.
Some of the places Nesbitt worked and lived before Eunice, and just to name a few, were, WRFX The Fox, Kannopolis, NC; a former program director at WABZ-FM, in Albermarle, NC; Bayou 104 in New Orleans, KQID-FM in Alexandria.
Pucheu added that Rick is “everywhere in Eunice.” Nesbitt is president and active in the Eunice Kiwanis, Eunice Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board, and spends countless hours as the voice on the air waves-on radio, KEUN. He volunteers as Emcee for different events, and always has his camera ready taking photographs everywhere.
Pucheu added, “Of course, he is on the radio, and that’s his job but nobody could add up the countless hours Rick has spent volunteering as emcee or providing music and background sounds for events that don’t pay him anything. Rick is everywhere. He is the voice of Eunice, not just the radio voice of Eunice, but the actual voice we expect to hear whenever there is a public event, and I think that is a good thing.”
Nesbitt said, “I have never felt at home like I do here in Eunice and by all it’s people. I have made many friends here. I have lived and worked in many different cities, but never had a lasting connection with its community or people like I do here. You have accepted and welcomed me with open arms!”
The nomination letter, written by Huckaby, in its entirety, “To whom it may concern, There is a famous line from the song, “The Streak,” He’s Everywhere — He’s Everywhere.” Well, although if he put on less than two layers of clothes on his 90 pound body, he would freeze to death — He is everywhere.
“My nominee for Citizen of the Year has called Eunice home for the past 16 years, which is the longest that he has ever lived in one place. Eunice is home for him.
“Never married and expansive career in radio and broadcasting, Eunicians can spot his big yellow van at all community events. He touches lives of everyone that he comes into contact, and always with a huge smile and a “How Dee.”
“He encourages community participation, over and over again. A well-known pet lover, Kiwanian, notary, crawfish etouffee cook-off. He is active and constant with radio, broadcasting, Eunice Player’s Theater, Liberty Theater, City Council meetings and often trains young workers for the Liberty Theater.
“He loves and shares his vast ephemera (collectibles) bringing smiles to all. I nominate Rick Nesbitt for Eunice’s Citizen of the Year!
“Here’s a little Rick trivia that you may not know, he is chronically ill and gets no or extremely low assistance from outside agencies, and although he is everywhere he doesn’t get paid to be.”