The Hometown Heroes Awards are a celebration of individuals who live or teach in the city, and Peoria businesses for their local achievements and distinguished contributions to the community.
Palmer will be honored at an awards luncheon in later this month.
What I like most about living/working in Peoria: It is safe and affordable for retirement. We searched for two years looking for a place to retire. Westbrook Village met all my needs with facilities for golf, tennis, woodshop club, bridge and many more activities. Peoria also has easy access to medical facilities and a local government that responds to residents’ needs.
Professional highlights: Vice President of a manufacturing company making bedspreads and draperies, selling to major retailers all over the country. I sold to Sears, JC Penney and WT Grant, among others. I was with the company 36 years.
What do you think you bring to the local community that makes it better?: I think that I have been a good citizen to the community. In my active years, I volunteered with the local food bank, as well as ushered at both Symphony Hall and the Herberger Theater.
What would you tell people about why it’s important to make a difference?: I would tell residents to take more interest in local activities and learn more about Arizona and what the state has to offer. We have so many snow birds who do not participate. We have to reach out to them and bring them into the fold.
Changes I’d like to see in this area: As far as changes go, the schools need more money, the city needs a greater police presence, and continued good work in public parks and biking/hiking trails.
My family (what have they taught you): My family has taught me in many ways to be an involved citizen, a moral person with no prejudices, to live within my means and to help my fellow man.
My interests and hobbies: Due to poor health, my interests and hobbies have been greatly limited. I was an avid bridge player, golfer and tennis player. In my youth, it was fishing and skiing. I have been the president of several clubs in Westbrook Village.
My advice to today’s youth: My advice to today’s youth is that not every student is college material. We need people trained in the trades, professions such as plumbing, electrical and carpenters to name just a few fields.
Name a couple future goals: Being 95 years of age my immediate goal is to get to 96.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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