KMBQ owner, chamber president receives recognition

Last week's Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce luncheon was a bit different than usual for chamber president John Klapperich. For the most part, Klapperich knows exactly what will be discussed at these meetings. But when Rep. Carl Gatto's office called Klapperich and asked if Gatto could speak for a few minutes at the luncheon, Klapperich had no idea that Gatto was planning to speak about him.

"I really think it was a little too much," said Klapperich after Gatto presented him with a "legislative citation," an honor bestowed by the Legislature each year to Alaska residents who have shown longtime outstanding leadership and achievement.

Each legislative member is allowed to bestow 10 citations a session; this year Gatto awarded six in the Valley; both Gatto and Rep. Bill Stoltze gave one of the citations.

Klapperich may have been a little hesitant about receiving such an honor at a public gathering -- "I'd rather have done it with Carl and my wife at the office," he said in a later interview -- but chamber members deemed the presentation worthy of public appearance when they burst into applause after Gatto read the citation aloud.

"He keeps himself plugged in so well that it is easy to notice him," said Gatto. "How much time, effort and money that John puts in the community shows what type of person he is."

Klapperich response was modest. "Really, anyone can do what I can do -- many could do it better," he said. Once the realization of what Gatto had granted him set it, Klapperich was able to talk more comfortably about his delight in receiving such an honor from a longtime friend.

"If I've helped people, if I've made a difference for tomorrow, well, I guess I deserve this award," he said. "It kind of validates the efforts and beliefs I have in this community and these people.

"When all of this is said and done at the end of the night, these are the things we remember," Klapperich said.