Click on Picture to Read More about Sam

NOMINATION OF
Lt. Col. Denis "Sam" Dehne, USAF (ret)
NOMINEE FOR RGJ.. AND CITY OF RENO.. CITIZEN OF THE YEAR for 2016...
AND for 2000, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '08, '09, etc etc


Here is Why Sam Dehne is the Citizen of the Year and of the Decade:

Sam Dehne is Watchdog over local and state government, Entertainer for Seniors and Veterans, Candidate for local and Congressional offices -- these (in no order of importance) are just a few of many roles that are filled in exemplary manner by Air Force LTC Sam Dehne (ret) of Reno, Nevada.  And he does it all for free.

As a volunteer guitarist, singer, and entertainer, Sam performs regularly at a number of senior facilities in Reno and Carson City, Nevada. He has done so for more than ten years (1,000 occasions), thereby enriching the lives of hundreds of citizens and veterans.  Tying in with this, Sam had several years of weekly community-cable television programs in Reno and Carson City. 
These 1 hour broadcasts show-cased his government-oversight Crusade and his musical talents in an entertaining and stylish fashion.

As a monitor of local and state government, Sam attends meetings of the Reno City Council, the Washoe County Commission (and previously for many years: the Reno Airport Board, Reno Convention Board, and Board of Carson City Supervisors on a regular basis).  He testifies during every meeting on issues of concern to average citizens and the common good.  Over 5,000 of his podium presentations are documented on official video tapes.

Sam serves as an outspoken advocate of openness and honesty; as opposed to powerful interests who are far too often capable of circumventing regular checks and balances.  Sam has attended 99.6% of Reno govt meetings over the past 22 years.  He has made record-setting number of positive and practical suggestions for improving government.  He has also exposed faults in myriad issues and in certain persons and especially in the local media. 
In one just one of 100s of examples, Sam exposed wrongdoing on the part of the Nevada Commission on Ethics (click) by suing its members in federal court and winning! That "good-old boy" Commission had tried to intimidate and suppress Sam's Guard-Angeling battles by attempting to fine him $5,000 for pressing a valid Complaint against Reno's then-mayor. The severely biased Commission went so far as to permit the involved mayor to participate in its deliberations as to how to suppress Sam!  His win in court led to an overhaul of the Commission's corrupt practices.
 
Sam's pioneer website, Reno Citizen dot Com, demonstrates his comprehensive concerns and whimsical sense of humor.  It combines his Watchdogging with his musical entertaining talents.  As a matter of fact Sam often testifies with guitar in hand and comments are made via extemporaneous rockabilly-style musical poetry.

As a candidate for public offices, Sam has campaigned on many occasions for seats on the Reno City Council, the Washoe County Commission, and twice for United States Congress.  He has refused to accept campaign donations from entities that would expect paybacks, and his runs for office have  been tainted with myriad vote counting irregularities. 

Sam is not popular among Nevada's movers and shakers... and especially the media.  The glaring irregularities in local elections point to vote-tampering being used against Sam during every election cycle.  Electronic “video game” voting machines like those used in all Nevada counties have been outlawed in California because they can be easily rigged to throw elections.  Needless to say, Election Reform is a high priority in Sam's undertakings.

The theme of extraordinary "Service before Self" applies to Sam Dehne without question.  The pattern of making a difference in the lives of others through his continued and on-going commitment to his community and to the oath he swore to as an Air Force Academy Cadet describes Sam's lifestyle.  The concept of being "just" a good average citizen is not a fit for Sam.  Every day in Sam's life results in benefits for other persons and the common good ~ by intent.

There's nobody any better at what Sam does. Philanthropically and extemporaneously!



Sam's life during his "retirement" years can be better appreciated when put into context of his earlier years:

As the son of a regular Army officer and medical doctor who participated in the D-Day landings and later occupation of Berlin, Sam's childhood included living
in such places as Germany and the Panama Canal Zone, etc.

Sam graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1962.

Master boxer - USAFA, 139-pound champion, 1961.

Sam flew nuclear-armed B-52s, reconnaissance RF-4s and RF-101s, accomplishing a very rare Perfect Flying Safety Record for 26 years as Air Force and Airline Pilot. 

He single-handedly created a B-52 Fuel Management program that has saved U.S . taxpayers roughly $1 billion.

Sam was a Pilot for Pan American Airlines until that proud airline was blown out of business by terrorists.

Sam was elected Pan Am union chairman for 4 terms (New York Pilots /2nd Officers).

Sam has been editor, publisher, reporter, protagonist, and antagonist for The Reno Citizen magazine for over 20 years... a pioneering internet effort.



Sam Dehne is making his retirement years count in significant ways. He more than deserves serious consideration for the Above and Beyond Citizen Honors Initiative.

When it comes to impact on America and the community; doing everything from Watchdogging government bureaucrats and the media, from protecting Freedom of Speech, from creating and proposing ideas and schemes that have saved citizens untold millions of tax dollars, to bringing joy to hundreds of Citizens and Veterans at Senior Facilities, Sam Dehne stands alone!

Day after day, week after week, and year after year Sam donates and dedicates his myriad talents in just about every venue imaginable. 
And he does it for love of country.
As another aside, Sam's big-heartedness also made Santa Land at Reno Park Lane possible for two years. Anyone who thinks this was a money-making venture is wrong.
Sam's Santa Land later moved to a mall in Carson City where gave joy to hundreds of kids. Until Santa sadly passed away.

While some other irresponsible persons are thinking about the weather, Sam Dehne is helping to benefit our community in many ways ~ 365 days a year. Let those (few) who are his peers judge him ~ and not village idiots.

Humble Nominee:
Lt Col Denis "Sam" Dehne, USAF (ret)
Reno, NV 89502
775-825-1398

Click Back to The Reno Citizen

The Reno area has about the normal amount of standard volunteers who offer their talents and time. But there is one enormous and obvious exception.

When it comes to impact on the community; doing  everything from Watchdogging government bureaucrats and the media, from protecting Freedom of Speech, from creating and proposing ideas and schemes that have saved citizens untold millions of tax dollars, to bringing joy to hundreds of Citizens and Veterans at Senior Facilities,  Sam Dehne stands alone!

Day after day, week after week, and year after year Sam donates and dedicates his myriad talents in just about every venue imaginable.  And he does it for nothing.

Not only is Sam the Reno Citizen of the Year... he is unarguably the Reno Citizen of the Decade.

Sam sets the standard when it comes to both quality of contribution and quantity of contribution.

The other volunteer citizens certainly deserve kudos and Honorable Mention.

Relative to the submission of this nomination, it must be noted that Sam Dehne has been the most vehement critic of the Reno Gazette in its history; using every technique imaginable from televised verbal admonitions to songs with his guitar.  An Honest newspaper, however, would not hold this against him.  They would be proud of his sophisticated and charming rebukes.

We shall see.

Here are just a few of the accomplishments that qualify Sam Dehne for First Place as Reno Citizen of the Year:

* September, 2007 - Sam established the: 5,000/1,000/60/20 "Public Service Society". (It's exclusively Sam's Society)

Some other Accomplishments:
* $1,000,000,000 (est.) B-52 Fuel Savings
Operation created.
* $100,000,000 (est.) saved by
correcting the Nevada Air National
Guard mission.
* Instigated and championed
Reno's Downtown Convention
Center with RSCVA/Legislature -
$100,000,000.
* Saved the Reno Parking
Meters from being 24 hour fees.
* Graduate United States Air Force
Academy 1962.
* Air Force pilot in B-52, RF-4,
RF-101 with Perfect Flying Safety
Record for 20 years (ret Lt Col).
* Pan Am pilot until airline
blown out of business by terrorists.
* PAA Union Chairman 4 terms
(New York Pilots/2nd Officers). 
* Performed more than 850
Charity Concerts for Seniors.
* Master boxer - USAFA 139#
Champion 1961.
* Government Watchdog
with over 5,000 authenticated
oversight "lectures" at Reno area
govt meetings (savings
unknown, but easily in the
$100's of millions).
* Editor, publisher, reporter
for The Reno Citizen
magazine for over 10 years...
a pioneering internet effort.
* Singing/playing repertoire
of over 1,000 of songs from memory.
* Sam continues to maintain
his humbleness throughout.

Note: This is the "Reader's Digest" version...
and a Work In Progress.