The annual banquet recaps accomplishments of the previous year, honors the Citizen of the Year and features a noted speaker.

The Richardson Chamber of Commerce held its 51st Annual Banquet at the Renaissance Hotel on Wednesday, Feb. 27th, 2008. 

Speaker:      Martin G. Foster
                   EVP, Plan Operations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield

A highlight of the event was announcement of the 2007 Citizen of the Year which went to Zyvex Corporation founder James Von Ehr, one of the top leaders in the nanotechnology industry.  During a humorous tribute by last year’s Citizen of the Year, architect Richard Ferrara, the crowd of more than 400 learned that Von Ehr’s rise to professional and civic stardom has been an interesting trajectory.  Photos of a much younger Von Ehr, looking like a long-haired poster child for the counter culture movement when he applied for a position at Texas Instruments in the 1970s, drew a great deal of laughter.  However, there was nothing funny about the long list of Von Ehr’s contributions to the community, which include generous gifts to technical studies programs at The University of Texas at Dallas.  Bill Sproull, president of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, noted that Von Ehr’s generosity of spirit and dedication to his profession made him a natural candidate for the prestigious Citizen of the Year honor.  
 
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Over 550 attended the 50th Annual Richardson Chamber of Commerce Banquet held on Feb. 27, 2007. Texas Instruments President and CEO, Rich Templeton was the keynote speaker. The Chamber also recognized Richard Ferrara as the 2006 Citizen of the Year.