The Nederland Chamber of Commerce named former Nederland Police Chief Darrell Bush as its “Citizen of the Year.” Bush will be recognized at the Chamber’s annual banquet Thursday.

This is the first time the chamber named a citizen of the year.

Bush, born and raised in Nederland, said he is honored by the award and loves the city of Nederland. Bush retired in 2018 after holding the title of chief of police for 17 years.

“I’ve lived here all of my life,” Bush said. “I live and raised my family two blocks from where I grew up. I’ve always been very proud of Nederland and proud of the citizens, the city itself and I always enjoyed working here.”

Bush began working with the city in 1974 as a police dispatcher.

“I was fortunate to just work my way up until I retired this past year,” he said. “I can’t say that I regret one minute of it. I couldn’t have been treated any better by the citizens or the city. I just feel very honored to have been a part of that. I’m very proud of Nederland.”

Bush said he gives credit to the citizens for Nederland still being the city he always knew.

“Your local government is going to be as good as the citizens want it to be,” he said. “When you look around at other cities and really see the problems and situations they have, you really come to appreciate what we have here.”

Although he is a retired police chief, Bush still wants to help the city. He currently serves on City Civil Service Commission and the Nederland Independent School District’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which looks at potential bond issues for the district.

“There’s so much that needs to be done with our schools,” Bush said. “Our kids are our future. The kids here in Nederland deserve the best education and the best facilities we can afford to give them. For too long, we haven’t improved our facilities.

“It’s amazing the quality teachers we and educators we have that they are able to do the good job they are doing with the facilities they have.”

Bush will have to miss the next CAC meeting because he will be emceeing the Chamber Banquet where he will be recognized. Both events begin at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Nederland Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Diana LaBorde did not return calls for comment.