What does the 2011 Morgan Hill Man of the Year look like? Look
no farther than page C1 of today’s Gilroy Dispatch. Marty Cheek, a
Dispatch lifestyles columnist, will be presented the award at 6
p.m. Jan. 29 at the Community
&
amp; Cultural Center in Morgan Hill at 17000 Monterey Road.
What does the 2011 Morgan Hill Man of the Year look like? Look no farther than page C1 of today’s Gilroy Dispatch.
Marty Cheek, a Dispatch lifestyles columnist, will be presented the award at 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Community & Cultural Center in Morgan Hill at 17000 Monterey Road.
Cheek – often seen with a camera in his hand or on his shoulder – volunteers at the Morgan Hill Access Television station and said Morgan Hill is full of deserved “peoples of the year.”
Not too long after being told of the honor, Cheek was at Huntington Station when a war veteran began to tell stories about his service and the honors he’s received; “Now, this is the guy that needs to be Man of the Year,” Cheek said.
“It really is an honor and when I found out, it really touched my heart,” Cheek said.
Beyond planning new programs for MHAT, and shooting and editing video, Cheek is on the Parks and Recreation Commission and volunteers to keep San Pedro Ponds clean. He’s been with the Silicon Valley Puzzle Fest for years and also volunteers at the South County Democrats headquarters.
“I’m very blessed. It’s been a good move (from San Jose),” Cheek said, about his decision he made at 5 p.m. one July day 1999. Cheek has a sharp memory.
“In a sense I got a family. My friends here have become my surrogate family. People have been so supportive. I think Morgan Hill fits my personality: Down-to-earth, fun-loving and community-oriented,” he said.
Cheek is a former reporter, avid photographer and advocate of sustainable existence – he’s written a book with Congressman Jerry McNerney titled “Clean Energy Nation,” due out in April.
“We need to solve these problems now,” Cheek said about the United States relying less on foreign oil. “On a local level, with MHAT, hopefully we can share through video – taking the local perspective and making it national,” he said.
The 2011 2011 Celebrate Morgan Hill Awards are at 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. Details: Call the Chamber of Commerce at 779-9444.
To read more on the Celebrate Morgan Hill Awards click here.
