Groton — Born and bred in eastern Connecticut, Louis Ziegler got his due from many of the region's civic and business leaders Wednesday night, feted as the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut's 68th Citizen of the Year.

More than 300 people packed a ballroom at the Mystic Marriott to extol the virtues of the "quiet, selfless" Ziegler, who for more than two decades served as the Mohegan Tribal Housing Authority's executive director.

When it was his turn to speak — a moment he conceded he'd been dreading for months — Ziegler said he found the evening's tributes overwhelming. He recalled that when he learned he'd been chosen to receive the award, he asked to see the criteria.

"I wanted to make sure I was qualified," he said to laughter. "What had I done differently in the last year?"

As those who preceded him to the podium noted, his contributions to the community weren't confined to any year but rather spanned decades.

Soon after his 1987 graduation from Eastern Connecticut State University, Ziegler went to work as an assistant manager for the Household Finance Corp. in Waterford. In 1993, he moved on to the Norwich Bulletin and three years later went to work for the Mohegan Tribe. He joined the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation in 2007 and became board chairman in 2010. Under his leadership, the foundation, which provides grant funding to local children's charities, has raised more than $831,000 for nonprofits in the area. Last December, the foundation’s 34th Holiday Gala, organized by Ziegler and a team of volunteers, raised more than $122,000.

Ziegler also serves on the boards of the Montville Commission on Aging, Montville Little League and Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities Inc.

As the tribal housing authority's first employee, he had to establish the authority's policies and procedures and develop programs that promote safe and affordable living accommodations for tribal members. He was instrumental in establishing lending programs that accommodated first-time home buyers.

Ziegler was responsible for overseeing construction of the Mohegan Tribe’s 66,000-square-foot Elderly Housing Complex in 2002, and expanded the program to include assisted-living services in 2006. In addition to the complex, he also manages other tribe-owned housing.

While at The Bulletin, Ziegler became involved with the Tommy Toy Fund, a charitable organization that collects toys for needy children and distributes them during the holidays.

Wednesday night's event was a family affair. Ziegler's 18-year-old daughter Sydnie and 13-year-old son Ryan led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance while brother Robert gave the invocation and benediction.

Speakers included Tony Sheridan, the chamber's president and chief executive officer; Kevin Brown, the Mohegan Tribe's chairman; Lynn Malerba, the Mohegan chief whose sister, Jeannette, is Ziegler's wife; and Marc Bokoff, who preceded Ziegler as chairman of the chamber foundation's holiday gala. Other tribal and community leaders were featured in a video presentation. Al Ayers, chairman of the chamber's board of directors, presented Ziegler with the award.

Bill Stanley, vice president of development and community relations for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, served as master of ceremonies.

The award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding strides on behalf of the civic and business community. Recipients are nominated for good work accomplished over the course of a year, in recent years, or over a lifetime. Recent recipients include Mary Lenzini of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut; Neil Ryan and Scott Gladstone of Wireless Zone; Mitchell Etess of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority; Maria Miranda of Miranda Creative; Alice Fitzpatrick of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut; and Grace S. Jones of Three Rivers Community College.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com