The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce David Neuroth as Clayton’s 2025 Citizen of the Year.
(Read Full Press Release Below).
The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce David Neuroth as their 2025 Citizen of the Year
David H. Neuroth has been a generous member of the Clayton community for over 15 years, giving his time, talents, and heart to projects that strengthen our town. A retired mechanical engineer and proud Rotarian, David is best known locally for turning his maple syrup hobby into a sweet source of charity by donating syrup sales dollars to numerous community fundraisers. His leadership and ingenuity have touched many corners of Clayton life-whether mentoring young men in recovery, leading a program with Red Cross to install nearly three hundred free smoke detectors here in Clayton, helping the Amish community with medical transportation, or building community through Rotary projects.
During his tenure as Clayton Rotary President, David launched the Youth Punkin Chunkin program that has donated well over 20,000 pounds of food to local pantries, and chairing the creation of AnchorCon, the annual comic convention serving as both a Rotary fundraiser and regional attraction. He also partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 10th Mountain Division to facilitate 125 soldiers plus local volunteers in completely rebuilding Clayton’s Wooden Park Playground for families across the North Country.
Born in Theresa, NY, and raised on his family’s dairy farm, David went on to graduate from Syracuse University in Mechanical Engineering. His distinguished career spanned decades, earning him fifty-three patents and leadership roles at Kerite Company and at Centrilift a Baker Hughes Company where he received a lifetime achievement award. Service has always been at the heart of his life—from founding a Habitat for Humanity chapter in Oklahoma to overseeing installation of a commercial kitchen at Emmanuel Congregational Church that now serves free meals five days a week to those in need.
David and his wife of 57 years, Debbi, always knew they would return to the North Country and are proud to be citizens of Clayton. They have two children, Mariah and Matthew, and two grandchildren, Archer and Bowie. David is known for his kindness, humor, and his gift for bringing people together to make a difference.
A dinner to recognize Dave will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel located at 200 Riverside Drive, Clayton NY. Reservations can be made online at www.1000islands-clayton.com/citizen or by calling or emailing the Clayton Chamber of Commerce at 315.686.3771 or tricia@1000islands-clayton.com.