2026 Outstanding Young San Antonian

Demonstrating the Rotary philosophy of 'Service Above Self'

Established in 1931 by the Jaycees, this award honors outstanding young San Antonians who exemplify the Rotary philosophy of 'Service Above Self' by making exceptional contributions to the community. In 2002 the Rotary Club of San Antonio began selecting recipients.

Recipients included Tom Slick, Tom Frost Jr, Nelson Wolff, Henry Cisneros, Bonnie Reed, Pat Frost, Tim Duncan, Rick Cavender.

This year’s recipient

The Rotary Club of San Antonio proudly honors Charlie Blank as the 2026 Outstanding Young San Antonian. As founding Executive Director of River Aid San Antonio, Blank has mobilized thousands of volunteers, removed hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from local waterways, and helped inspire a growing culture of environmental stewardship across Bexar County. What began as a small Earth Day cleanup with roughly 40 volunteers has evolved into a countywide environmental movement—in 2025 alone, more than 3,200 volunteers participated in River Aid initiatives. Today the organization leads watershed cleanups, ecological restoration, water quality monitoring, and partnerships with local government agencies. Guided by a commitment to service above self, Blank encourages San Antonians to take ownership of the problems they see close to home. Read more about his award and remarks at the May 2026 luncheon.

In Their Own Words

Thank you Rotary Club Of San Antonio for selecting me as this year's winner. We are lucky to have such a great organization here in SA.

— APRIL T. (2018 Recipient)

Humbled and honored to receive the 2023 Outstanding Young San Antonian Award from the Rotary Club of San Antonio, joining a legacy of community leaders who demonstrate Service Above Self dating all the way back to the 1930s! I also had the opportunity to share my story and encourage others to not 'think outside of the box'—there is no box when it comes to paving a brighter future! Grateful for the support of my mentors, friends, and family who inspire and encourage me daily.

— CYLE P. (2023 Recipient)

Honoring the 1941 recipient of the Rotary Club of San Antonio Outstanding Young San Antonian Award 75 years later. — CDR HAROLD RISENER (1941 Recipient)

Previous Recipients

2026 - Charlie Blank
2025 – Kevin Matula
2024 – David Robinson Jr.
2023 – Cyle Perez
2022 – David Robinson
2021 – Emma Faye Rudkin
2020 – Ryan Lugalia-Hollon
2019 – Lorenzo Gomez
2018 – April Ancira Thompson
2017 – Rey Saldaña
2016 – Brandon Logan
2015 – Jon Marek
2014 – Shannon Sedwick Davis
2013 – Rev. Gavin Rogers
2012 – Jennifer Paquette
2011 – Armen Babajanian
2010 – Bruce Bowen
2009 – Rebecca Brune
2008 – Mark Larson
2007 – Lanham Napier
2006 – Dr. Fernando Lopez
2005 – Josh Davis
2004 – Leslie Mouton
2003 – Tim Duncan
2002 – Mark Mays
2001 – Mayor Ed Garza
2000 – Justice Wallace Jefferson
1999 – Pat Frost
1998 – David Robinson
1997 – Ron Barshop
1996 – Lyle Larson
1995 – Richard H. Cavender
1994 – T.J. Connolly
1993 – Robert G. Marbut, Jr.
1992 – Richard P. Ojeda
1991 – Judge Carleton B. Spears
1990 – Judge Bonnie Reed
1989 – Karyne Jones Conley
1988 – Thomas Yantis
1987 – Cyndi Taylor Krier
1986 – Dr. Louis Agnese, Jr.
1985 – Gilbert F. Vazquez
1984 – Roy Barrera, Jr.
1983 – Paul Rush
1982 – Gary Short
1981 – James Dublin
1980 – Carl D. Newton, III
1979 – Frank Tejeda
1978 – Dan Loveland
1977 – Tom Vickers
1976 – W.W. McAllister, III
1975 – Henry G. Cisneros
1974 – Bernard M. Brooks, Jr.
1973 – Reese L. Harrison
1972 – Nelson W. Wolff
1971 – Bob Lee
1970 – Segal V. Wheatley
1969 – Charles S. Nelson
1968 – Douglas Mitchell
1967 – Boone Powell
1966 – James L. Hayne
1965 – Lloyd Jary, Jr.
1964 – Charles L. Smith
1963 – W. Don Tiner
1962 – Franklin S. Spears
1961 – Tom Frost, Jr.
1960 – Jack Pitcluk, Jr.
1959 – Porter Loring, Jr.
1958 – Jack Cones
1957 – John Daniels
1956 – Hubert Green, Jr
1955 – Walter Corrigan
1954 – Bob Hollingsworth
1953 – Bill Southwell
1952 – Sam Riklin
1951 – Bill Camp
1951 – Sam Jarle
1951 – Sam Riklin
1951 – Phil Willis
1951 – Forres E. Wood
1950 – William Bellamy
1950 – John W. Fielder
1950 – Jack C. Hamilton
1950 – Paul K. Herder
1950 – Henry J. Sebastian
1949 – James V. McGoodwin
1948 – Tom Slick
1947 – Dan Gates
1946 – Lou Riklin
1945 – Angus Cockrell
1944 – Carl Stromberger
1943 – Willis Tate
1942 – Harold Risener
1941 – Walter Thomas
1940 – Jake Tiner
1939 – Albert Buss
1938 – Jesse Fletcher
1937 – Theo Weiss
1936 – Fred Felty
1935 – Joni Jones
1934 – Bailey Peyton
1933 – Guy Bonham
1932 – Arthur Pfeil
1931 – Youngs Crook

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