Dennis Porter graduated from Sidney High School in 1966, then entered Monroe Community College. After graduating, he earned a B.S. degree at SUNY Brockport, and a degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University. In 1974 Dennis was hired by Bendix Corporation, later Amphenol, where he enjoyed a long career in finance and accounting until his retirement in 2008.
In 1974, Dennis organized a chapter of Jaycees, a young men's service organization, where he served as the Charter President, a district director, and was the recipient of the Outstanding Regional Director Award for New York State in 1977. Dennis later served on the Sidney Central School Board for three terms and was President for five years.
In 2008, Dennis became a member of the Trained Disaster Team of the American Red Cross of the Southern Tier. This team was instrumental in setting up and managing a Red Cross shelter at St. Luke's Lutheran Church after the 2011 flood
Active in the Boy Scouts for many years, Dennis was Committee Co-Chair for Pack 34 and Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 34, as well as Unit Commissioner for Troops 88 and 99. He also served as Chairman of the Foothills District and as board member for the Otschodela Council. In 2011 Dennis received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor that can be given to a volunteer by a local council.
Dennis has been a member of the Sidney Rotary Club since 2003. He served as president in 2013 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was the recipient of the Rotarian of the Year Award in 2015, given to the Rotarian who has given the most to the club that year.
Since 2002 Dennis has been active with the Sidney Central School Alumni Association, serving as a director since its inception, and for many years as Chairman of the School Relations Committee. He also helped organize the first annual alumni golf tournament, 1000 Book Challenge, the Wall of Fame and the Sports Hall of Fame Committees.
Probably the greatest impact Dennis has had on the Sidney community has been his involvement in the United Way, of which he has been a member for thirty-four years. During this time, Dennis has held the positions of Director, Treasurer, Executive Secretary and, for the past fourteen years, Executive Director. In 2015 he was awarded the Community Matters Award -- the United Way's highest honor.
In 2013, Dennis was honored by the Sidney Chamber of Commerce as the Citizen of the Years, saying, "Dennis Porter is an example of the hometown boy who grew up in a small town, played with the neighborhood kids, graduated from the local high school and left home to expand horizons, but then returned to his hometown where he put his heart and energies into helping to make his community special."