Paul Price Honored as Novato Citizen of the Year for 2023

Countertops, sinks, cabinets, decorative tile, flooring, free-standing islands … Paul Price knows all about them as a kitchen remodeling expert. The same goes for vanities, bathtubs, showerheads, and all things related to bathrooms, including commodes. He spent more than 30 years running Novato Kitchen & Baths before easing into retirement.

Another term from that world is fixture, sort of a catch-all word in that industry. Which brings us back to Paul Price, a catch-all fixture for the Novato community.

His almost 40 years of volunteer service to local events and organizations warranted recognition, something he desperately wishes to elude (as do most behind-the-scenes worker bees). But despite his cringing, the exceptionally humble Paul Price was selected as the 2023 Novato Citizen of the Year, as picked committee of former recipients of the honor.

Price was honored at the city’s 64th birthday party Saturday, January 20, at Marin Country Club. His induction into the Citizen of the Year club was a closely kept secret until the gala event, with longtime friends and family members scheming to surprise him. His name was announced after Barbara Madrid was bestowed the 2023 Spirit of Novato Award for her work on literacy projects.

Also, almost 200 birthday party celebrants showered several other award winners at the gala.

· The Novato Police Department’s Employees of the Year were Detective Antonio Rodriguez (sworn officer) and Senior Dispatcher Nathan Davis (non-sworn);

· The Novato Fire Protection District’s Employees of the Year were Fire Engineer/Paramedic Ryan Hamilton (shift staff) and Information Services Manager Azar Mashintchian (administrative services);

· The Novato Chamber’s awardees were energy supplier MCE (large business), Buddy's Automotive & Restoration (small business), and Daniel Spain Body & Massage (microbusiness).

Since moving to Novato in 1983, Price played a vital role in shaping and enhancing the business landscape of Novato. His leadership, dedication, and strategic insights have left a lasting positive impact on local businesses. Specifically, the committee gave the nod after reviewing Price’s significant contributions to the Downtown Novato Business Association, the Fourth of July Parade, the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Rock the Block concerts, the Trek Winery Harvest Festival, and more.

Stephanie Koehler, Executive Director of the DNBA, lent her enthusiastic support to Price’s nomination for the award.

“Paul has been an outstanding pillar of support for the Novato community, dedicating countless hours to many events and community happenings that have significantly contributed to the pride in and vibrancy of Novato,” Koehler said. “On the same note, Koehler added: “His impact resonates not only in the professional realm but also in the hearts of those who have had the pleasure of working alongside him or benefiting from his community-minded initiatives.”

Price was cited in the award nomination as a cheerful and engaging personality who inspired friends and colleagues to participate in planning important Novato events. For years he was part of organizing efforts for the Independence Day parade and the Tree Lighting Ceremony, typically handling tasks that require heavy equipment and extra labor. Price provided street barriers, either by hauling concrete blocks with his forklift or recruiting contractor friends to block side streets with their trucks for added security and traffic control.

His parade contributions over about 30 years ranged from setting up the portable toilets, erecting vendor booths and crowd control barriers, signing up food and drink vendors, selling sno-cones, fetching icebags, hawking commemorative T-shirts, and even building a miniature City Hall for a parade float.

“These civic events are run by very small groups of volunteers, so his dedication has been critical,” said Kathy Nickel, a past Citizen of the Year who served with Price on the parade and tree lighting committees. “It often seems like too much, but time and again he comes up in spades with the physical backbone of these events. Need an announcer’s stage? He’ll get them. Need portable toilets? He’ll get them and find sponsors for all of them. Want a couple of cold water and slushie stands to keep your crowd hydrated? He’ll get them, finance them with donations, and recruit the volunteers to run them.”

Year after year, Price took the lead in orchestrating the tree lighting street party that sparked festive spirits of thousands of Novato families. He created the event’s Santa’s village and “voluntold” his brother to play Santa. “His meticulous planning, attention to detail, and infectious enthusiasm (and smile) transformed this annual tradition into a cherished tradition for our community,” Koehler said.

Those accumulated small deeds always added up to big-time support. Not only did Price lure financial contributions required to stage the community’s most popular annual events, “but more importantly he brings many, many new people to share ownership of them,” Nickel added. “Often Paul brings his brothers and colleagues along, and teen volunteers like working with him because he works hard and gives them the tools to work alongside him,” Nickel said. “He volunteers for all manner of tasks and gets them done without fanfare.”

Beyond his board of directors service, Price ensured the success of countless DNBA community events by donating his time, sweat, and muscle. He never hesitated to offer advice on issues facing the business community, which fostered a sense of unity and pride among business owners and managers. “Paul's unwavering commitment to community service is evident through his longstanding tenure on our DNBA Board,” Koehler said. “He continues to selflessly contribute to the betterment of Novato. His dedication to community well-being extends far beyond the call of duty, and his actions exemplify the true spirit of citizenship.”

Robin Price, Paul’s wife of 52 years, said the roots of her husband’s hardworking spirit come straight from his genes. When Paul was young, living in upstate New York, his father worked as a high school teacher and his mother was an occupational therapist and American Red Cross volunteer. The family moved to Seattle and then to the Los Angeles area, where four Price boys were inspired to never sit still.

Paul Price accepted responsibilities that many teens tried to skirt. He mowed lawns, had a paper route, worked as YMCA counselor, served as a hospital orderly, and worked on loading docks. After finishing with a master’s degree in sociology from UCLA, he tested the career waters in insurance, plumbing, paint contracting, delivery truck driving, and family counseling.

One kitchen remodeling job for a neighbor helped convince Price that it was his calling, he moved his wife and young family to the Bay Area to start a construction business with one of his brothers. Not long after, Price Brothers Construction morphed into the Novato Kitchens & Baths showroom. Paul’s first forays into volunteering in Novato were school projects – building a graduation stage at Sinaloa Middle School and teaching construction skills to Novato High students.

A zillion more volunteer hours later, Paul Price’s place in Novato history is cemented and assured.

He isn’t slowing down very much in retirement. The showroom is in good hands: The Prices’ daughter, Rosalind, runs the business with her husband, Wes, but Paul is still a contributor there. Paul loves camping in his new trailer, especially on quick trips to Bodega Bay. He is in Idaho quite a bit helping their son, Joe, with home repairs and a 1,000-square foot addition to a barn that’ll serve as a place for Paul and Robin to stay. And there are four grandkids to spoil: Kobe (23), Evelyn (8), William (6), and McKinley (3).

Robin Price said after watching Paul work seven days a week – paid or not – she wants to watch him relax and travel. But she has come to grips with the fact that he won’t stop donating his time to good causes.

“I think what Paul has loved most about volunteerism is the satisfaction of getting to share his knowledge and skills without ever blowing his own horn,” Robin Price said. “He has never once complained to me that he had to get up early or work late on a project. That’s my Paul.”

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Novato’s Birthday Party is planned by the all-volunteer nonprofit PTTR Board. The event brings together individuals, businesses, and civic leaders to honor those who make our community stronger. Generous sponsors making the event possible included Bank of Marin, BioMARIN, Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds & Event Center, and Hennessy Funds. Novato Paint the Town Red Inc. is a 501 (c)7 social corporation formed in 2007. Proceeds from the annual birthday event are used to produce the celebration and other community activities.

For more information visit: paintthetownred.org or contact: info@paintthetownred.org.