Little talk, great action

Leave it to a man of the fewest words to have the biggest impact.

An emotional Len Crosby graciously accepted his Citizen of the Year award - the greatest award bestowed annually in the River City - from the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, spoke for a matter of seconds Thursday night and sat down with his wife, Mary.What Len did say in a soft voice actually echoed like thunder: He thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve.

If service truly is the reward rather than the work, then Len Crosby is one of the richest men we know.He's board chair for Dirne Community Health Center and serves Boys and Girls Club, Post Falls Community Volunteers, American Legion Post 143, Disabled American Veterans, Inland Northwest Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and of course the Chamber of Commerce. Past involvement includes the Idaho Humanities Council, Post Falls Urban Renewal Commission and the Washington State University Real Estate Advisory Board. Crosby has also provided free consulting to community groups and small business regarding financing and real estate.

"He does these good deeds and good work quietly," said Jackie McAvoy, last year's Citizen of the Year.Shhhhh: Did you hear that? Quietly.

This is the time of year we salute the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce because of the phenomenal job it does at so many levels. Evidence is there right next to the new City Hall: The new chamber building, dedicated just last summer. But evidence is abundant throughout the business community, too.Ed Santos put it superbly when the new Chamber board president told the audience that Post Falls should not be known just as the Gateway to North Idaho, but as a place where business gets done.

And when you look at someone like Len Crosby, you see that the best business is bettering the lives of people.