Click on Picture to Read More about Sam
Click on Picture to Read More about Sam
NOMINATION OF
Lt. Col. Denis "Sam" Dehne, USAF
(ret)
NOMINEE FOR RENO GAZETTE
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - 2007... '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '08, '09, etc
etc
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
LTC Sam Dehne 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
nearly ten years (roughly 1,000 occasions), thereby enriching the lives of
hundreds of citizens and veterans. Tying to this, Sam has weekly
community-cable television programs in Reno and Carson City. These 1 hour
broadcasts show-case 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, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Board, the
Reno Convention Board, and the Board of Carson City Supervisors on a regular
basis. He testifies numerous times during each 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 missed virtually no such meetings over the past twelve years. He
has made countless 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 instance, Sam exposed wrongdoing on the part of the Nevada Commission on
Ethics by suing its members in federal court and winning! That "good-old boy"
Commission had tried to intimidate and suppress Sam's Watchdogging 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. Sam
has incorporated many of his erudite, prodigious, and sometimes humorous Public
Testimonies into the aforementioned weekly television program. 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 office, Sam has campaigned on many occasions for seats
on the Reno City Council, the Washoe County Commission, and even once for the
United States Senate. Not willing to accept campaign donations from
entities that would expect paybacks, 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 more than one election cycle. Electronic
“video game” voting machines just like those used in all Nevada counties have
been decertified 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.
Simply put; there's none any better at what Sam
does.
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
perfect flying safety record.
He created a B-52 Fuel Management program that has saved U.S . taxpayers roughly
$1 billion.
Sam later flew with 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 for
The Reno Citizen magazine for over 10
years... a pioneering internet effort.
Some of Sam's achievements as a volunteer Patriot in recent years include:
Sole local sponsor
for change in mission of Nevada Air National Guard (Reno) which resulted in
savings of $100-million.
Prevented City of
Reno from making its parking meters charge fees 24-hours a day.
Instigated and
championed Reno's Downtown Convention Center with convention authority and state
legislature. The Center has boosted local economy by more than $100-million.
In September, 2007 -
Sam was "inducted" into the:
5,000/1,000/60/20 "Public Service Society Hall of Fame".
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 nothing.
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 way
off the mark. Sam's Santa Land has now moved to a
mall in Carson City where
it's giving joy to hundreds of kids.
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.
Nominee:
Lieutenant Colonel Denis "Sam" Dehne
297 Smithridge Park
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.