Leon R. Spencer, Jr. named Outstanding Citizen of the Year

Posted by Press Release on February 15, 2017

Leon R. Spencer, Jr. (center) is the SCCCC’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Spencer poses with past recipients David Haradon (left) and Joan Holliday (right) at the Technical College High School in West Grove where Spencer is the School to Careers Specialist.

The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce has named Leon R. Spencer, Jr. its 2016 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. The Chamber will honor Spencer at its 50th Annual Dinner on Friday, March 24, at Longwood Gardens at 6:30 pm. In the picturesque setting of Longwood’s Conservatory, the annual dinner attracts business and community leaders for an evening of live entertainment, dinner, dancing and silent auction. Tickets are $175, with sponsorship opportunities available. To purchase tickets and to learn more, visit www.scccc.com.

A highlight of the Annual Dinner is the presentation of the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award. The Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award recognizes individuals who unselfishly contribute to the community's quality of life and display exemplary volunteer efforts demonstrating vision, leadership, and citizenship that positively impact the Southern Chester County community. This year, the Chamber will honor Leon R. Spencer, Jr. as its 2016 Citizen of the Year for his decades of service to the community.

“I am surrounded by so many incredibly wonderful people! Service to them is the greatest way I can honor the One who made me. Thanks be to God,” Spencer shared on the day he was told of his selection for the prestigious award.

“Leon Spencer, Jr. is an exemplary example of community service,” said Cheryl Kuhn, President of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. “His tireless work in our community and his ability and desire to bring people together to work toward a common goal is truly outstanding. We are proud to select him as this year’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year award recipient and look forward to honoring him at our 50th Annual Dinner.”

Leon Spencer, Jr. is a graduate of Kennett High School. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Muskingum College (University) in New Concord, Ohio and attended Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey for graduate coursework in choral conducting, Renaissance music, and vocal pedagogy. He was a public school music teacher and church music director in central Ohio and served on the boards for the Council of Boy Scouts, Big Brothers and Kiwanis Club, all in Licking County.

Spencer returned to Chester County in 1991 and soon became a member of the board for the Kennett Consolidated School District where he served as vice president and was president of the board for the Chester County Intermediate Unit. He was supervisor for the Chester County Head Start program. He was also the mayor of the Borough of Kennett Square from 1999 to 2010, served as Vice President of the Borough Council, and served as vice president of the Chester County School Authority (CSSA) and served on the boards for the Chester County Regional Educational Service (CCRES), the Kennett Boys Choir and Kendal/Crosslands Communities.

Currently, Spencer is the School To Careers Specialist for the Technical College High School, Pennock’s Bridge campus, in West Grove. A co-founder of Pro Musica Studio (1995), he is a vocal instructor and an active performing musician. In addition to being a solo performer, he is bassist/vocalist for the ensemble known as SydeTwo and is lead vocalist for the R&B band Goodfoot.

The Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award has been presented annually since 1968. Past recipients of this prestigious award include: 2005 Kathleen Lafferty, 2006 Doris Haley, 2007 Eva Verplanck, 2008 James T. Horn, 2009 Michael R. Walker, 2010 Janice Taylor, 2011 Terence Farrell, 2012 Stacie A. Kucera, 2013 Ken Goddu; 2014 Joan Holliday; and 2015 David Haradon.

About Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, the region's leading business member organization, is dedicated to the growth and development of its members by providing opportunities to connect businesses and support sustainable economic development. Founded in 1929 in Kennett Square, PA, the Chamber’s nearly 400 member businesses consist of influential business leaders and professionals, not-for-profits, institutions, legislative leaders, and more. The Chamber hosts more than 70 events and programs each year in the Southern Chester County region. To join or learn more about the Chamber, visit www.scccc.com.