The 40th Anniversary of the Washingtonian of the Year Awards (Photos)

WRC-TV anchor Jim Vance, who served as emcee; “Washingtonian” publisher Catherine Merrill Williams; former senator George Allen; “Washingtonian” chairman Eleanor Merrill; and Susan Allen.

The Washingtonian celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Washingtonian of the Year Awards and honored the 2011 Washingtonians of the Year at a luncheon at the Willard InterContinental yesterday. Nearly 250 guests and past winners celebrated the spirit of community service and volunteerism that the awards represent. News4 anchor Jim Vance served as emcee and revealed the “dark side” of colleague Tom Sherwood, who was one of the honorees.

“He tweets,” Vance joked. “He’s too old to tweet.”

Among the attendees was former senator George Allen, whose father, legendary Redskins coach George Allen, was the first to receive the award in 1971. Sponsored by Allstate Insurance, the Washingtonian of the Year luncheon honored eight local heroes—Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, Virginia volunteer Hecda Cuadros, Arlington Free Clinic director Nancy Sanger Pallesen, philanthropist Catherine Reynolds, foster parents Fatima and Ibrahim Savage, reporter Tom Sherwood, Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith, and Robert Zagorski, who devotes 250 days a year to volunteer service.

See the 2011 Washingtonians of the Year.

Leslie Milk