Two honored with Wichitan of the Year awards

Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News
Updated ·2 min read

Two men with strong ties to veterans’ causes were recognized with Wichitan of the Year awards Tuesday.

Joel Jimenez and Dale Nelsen were honored at an economic forum sponsored by the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Joel Jimenez salutes and says thank you after being named a Wichitan of the Year during an event at MSU Sikes Lake Community Center on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Joel Jimenez salutes and says thank you after being named a Wichitan of the Year during an event at MSU Sikes Lake Community Center on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

This was the first time two people have been honored with the awards in the same year.

Jimenez, a Vietnam veteran, is longtime commander of Chapter 41 of the Disabled American Veterans.  Nelsen, a 101-year-old World War II vet, has been active in the Honor Flight Network.

Jimenez was born in Ranger and raised by his grandmother. He was drafted into the Army in 1968. A Purple Heart was among his commendations. Like many veterans of that war, he returned to face challenges of readjusting to civilian life.

Navy veteran Dale Nelsen was named a Wichitan of the Year on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. He received the award via remote camera since recent surgery prevented him from attending in person.
Navy veteran Dale Nelsen was named a Wichitan of the Year on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. He received the award via remote camera since recent surgery prevented him from attending in person.

He has said a transformative experience motivated him to dedicate his life to supporting fellow veterans. He has advocated for them to government groups and anyone else who will listen.

“When I arrived in Wichita Falls and saw all the smiles and faces, I knew this town was for me,” Jimenez said Tuesday.

“This is for the men and women we left behind,” he said upon accepting the award.

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In January, the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls named Jimenez its Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Nelsen was born in 1922, in Nebraska. He joined the Navy in 1939 and served in the hospital corps. He retired after 40 years as a Senior Chief Petty Officer and worked in Washington, D.C., in intelligence and at Walter Reed Hospital.

After that he worked for Abbott Labs for 28 years. He and his wife moved to Wichita Falls in 1997 when he was 75 years old.

Guests give a standing ovation during the Wichitan Presentation of the Year event at MSU Sikes Lake Community Center on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Guests give a standing ovation during the Wichitan Presentation of the Year event at MSU Sikes Lake Community Center on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

He became a nursing home ombudsman and patient advocate and became active in the Honor Flight Network, which honors veterans with trips to the nation’s capital to see memorials built in their honor.

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Surgery prevented him from accepting his award in person, but he spoke via remote camera.

“This is an honor and I will cherish it as long as I live,” he said, then quipped with a smile, “which probably won’t be too long.”

Several past recipients were on hand at the presentation.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Two honored with Wichitan of the Year awards