NIU Trustee Robert Boey will receive the 2013 Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen award for contributions he has made to the Sycamore and DeKalb community.

The award will be given by the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting Thursday. It is named after Clifford Danielson, who was chairman and chief executive officer of the National Bank & Trust Co. of Sycamore for nearly 70 years.

“It’s a very high honor,” Boey said. “It’s especially touching to be included in the circle of distinguished people.”

Chamber Executive Director Rose Treml said the Sycamore Community Committee takes nominations for the Outstanding Citizen award every year.

Treml said the committee is made of community leaders who look for people who strive toward a high level of accomplishment, devoting their time and energy to making Sycamore a great place to live and work.

“We’re lucky to have great nominees every year,” Treml said. “It’s hard to choose one.”

Ken Mundy, Sycamore mayor and a past recipient of the Danielson Outstanding Citizen award, said no one is more deserving of the award than Boey.

“Bob and Doris Boey have given selflessly to the DeKalb-Sycamore area in education, business and generosity for decades,” Mundy said.

Boey relocated from New York to DeKalb in 1981 as the corporate manager of engineering for the Wire and Cable Division of Anaconda Co. He became the president and co-owner of American Bare Conductor Inc. in 1985, where he remained until 2006.

Boey also became a partner and co-owner of Sycamore Industrial Park that year, and took full ownership in 2008.

Mundy said Boey promoted and coordinated securing small companies needing production, warehousing and shipping facilities at the old wire mill.

“Hundreds of jobs were brought to Sycamore by Bob Boey, and the space provided small industry at the old mill which continues today at Sycamore Industrial Park,” Mundy said.

Boey has also contributed his time to helping the NIU community. Boey said Anaconda’s research facility became NIU’s engineering school for 10 years in 1985 while one was being built on campus.

He was appointed by Gov. Jim Edgar as one of the initial members of the NIU Board of Trustees, where he has served since 1996, including his service in the position of chair from 1997 to 1999.

Since 1995, Boey has also been a member of the NIU Foundation, where he received the Humanitarian Award for Service to the Community and the Outstanding Volunteer Award.