Project Santa ‘Elf’ John Carne named citizen of the year

Minden resident John Carne was named Citizen of the Year posthumously on Saturday by the Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club.

As a member of Minden Rotary, he spent a decade volunteering for Project Santa Claus.

He was previously named Citizen of the Year by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2019. Carne died Feb. 25, 2022. He was 75.

A 21-year Carson Valley resident, Carne was an attorney for 29 years with a focus on the First Amendment. In 2002, he received The James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2002.

Not long after moving to the Valley he was recruited to participate in The Record-Courier’s editorial board.

He joined Minden Rotary Club where he was instrumental at raising money for several community projects, including Douglas County Backpack Buddies.

In 2010, he led Rotary into a partnership with Kiwanis, the 20-30 club, Lions and Sertoma to help take charge of Project Santa Claus, which provides Christmas gifts for under privileged children.

More recently, through Rotary he helped raise funds to pay for the Douglas County Public Library’s Book Mobile.

Carne was listed in “Best Lawyers in America,” “Who’s Who in America,” and “Who’s Who International.”