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SUFFOLK, Virginia — The Suffolk Rotary Club announced Mike Duman, Auto Sales President and Suffolk Mayor, as the 2024 First Citizen Award recipient winner. The award is given to individuals who best exemplify the spirit of citizenship and have shown significant leadership through their time, talents, and efforts to make Suffolk a better place to live.

A graduate of Old Dominion University, Duman served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve. Starting his business career while still attending college, Duman established his first auto dealership in 1980 as the youngest Ford Mercury Dealer in the country. Duman has supported various nonprofits and volunteer organizations, including the Obici Hospital K-9 Kandystriper Therapy Dog Program, the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots Holiday Wrestling Camp, and Suffolk Youth Athletic Association, among others. Duman also led “The Du-Man Gives Back,” giving $1000 a month to Suffolk area nonprofits over the course of 12 months. Duman was also the recipient of the NAACP Trailblazer Award, the “Hometown Hero” award from the Boy Scouts of America, and the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership award.

Duman had a chance to share his thoughts on getting news of the award.

“I was actually caught off-guard,” Duman said. “I am a member of the Rotary Club, so I do know that this is about the time of the year that they select a First Citizen. I have attended the last 12 First Citizen events, but I had no idea that I was being considered this year for that recognition. So it really caught me off guard.”

Duman candidly expressed what the award means to him in his various roles in the City of Suffolk.

“So, as far as what it means to me as a citizen of Suffolk for the last 47 years, as a business owner for the last 44 years and looking back on what I have been involved with and how I have attempted to contribute to our community through my time and resources in addition to being Mayor, the recognition is very heartwarming to me,” he said. “because…most [of the] time when you’re volunteering or you’re serving in other capacities, I don’t think I, or most people, really do it for the notoriety or the compensation, and then sometimes you just wonder if anybody really recognizes the time and sacrifice that not only myself but others, give to their community without necessarily expecting anything in return. This is something in return.”

Duman continued.

“It is a recognition that I really feel honored and humbled to be selected as the First Citizen of Suffolk. There are a lot of others that serve our community that are probably equally deserving of this recognition, as I may be. When you look at the list of prior recipients, it really puts it into perspective. I see this list of individuals that were all and still are, whether [they’re] here today or not, very well respected and celebrated Suffolkians. And I think it just puts the label Suffolkian on you,” Duman said. “…even though I’ve been here 47 years, sometimes, are you really a Suffolkian? I wasn’t born here, didn’t go to high school here. And it just kind of solidifies, in my mind, that people really, truly consider me a Suffolkian…”

Likewise, Duman about what the award meant to him as a person.

“It’s a recognition, and a validation, of a lot of the time and effort and my commitment and my love for the city.”

Suffolk’s 2024 First Citizen award presentation will be held Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts (110 Finney Ave, Suffolk, VA 23434).