Nelson and Gloria Brooks were named Citizens of the Year by the Lincoln County Historical Society during its Annual Fellowship Dinner Meeting. Mrs. Mobley Ross (right) presented the couple with an engraved plaque. Gloria and Nelson Brooks were named "Citizens of the Year - 2007" by the Lincoln County Historical Society at the Annual Fellowship Dinner Meeting on January 5, 2008, at the Groves-May House. Mrs. Mobley Ross, Committee Chairman, made the announcement and presented the couple with an engraved plaque.

Mrs. Ross began her presentation by questioning the group on the characteristics of a good leader. Various members responded with reliability, honesty, availability, cooperativeness, willingness, dedication, personable, knowledgeable, friendliness and a loving spirit. She then said that Gloria and Nelson Brooks possessed these characteristics and others making them most deserving of the Citizens of the Year Award. They very graciously received the award with expressions of deep appreciation. Nelson reiterated his opening remarks regarding how much he had enjoyed his work with the society members whom he described as the hardest working group with whom he had ever been associated.

The Lincoln County Historical Society held its annual end of the year appreciation dinner meeting on January 5, 2008. Newly elected officers were installed by Ben B. Ross. Pictured above are: president - Jamie Reese; vice president - LaVina Marlow; secretary - Mickey Norman; and treasurer - Lindy Byrd. Nelson and Gloria work as a team. They are yoked together much as oxen are and they pull together to perform the task whatever it may be. Nelson has served as president of the society for the last two years and Gloria has given him her full support as he has performed the many responsibilities of the presidency. They have prepared well for meetings of the society by having an agenda ready, the meeting room arranged and refreshments available. They were 100% in attendance at meetings and on work days Nelson assumed many jobs beyond being a leader and delegating work for others. He could be found at the heart of the work being done. By email or telephone, he contacted the members regarding the time and place for scheduled work and was there to meet the workers upon their arrival. He had a very pleasant spirit regarding the necessary work whether it involved little or much time. Gloria's sweet manner was evident as she worked with the ladies on their projects.

The two big projects of the last two years have been the acquisitions of the one-room, Salem Schoolhouse and the Hogan-Harper Country Store. Nelson and Gloria were involved in contacting those who possessed these buildings to secure their approval for donating them to the Historical Society. They, too, were involved in submitting applications to the Watson-Brown Foundation in Thomson, Georgia, to request grants to help move these buildings to the historical site and aide in their restoration. Nelson was manually involved in the moving of the buildings and in the restoration process.

Both Gloria and Nelson take great pride in the success of these projects and in the Lincoln County Historical Park as being an asset to Lincolnton and Lincoln County. Their articles submitted to the Lincoln Journal during Nelson's term as president have helped to advertise the Historical Society and the Historical Park.

Nelson and Gloria worked tirelessly with Pioneer Day during the last two years, and they are largely responsible for the success of this event which actually requires the combined cooperation and efforts of all the members of the Historical Society. Nelson has volunteered to remain chairman of this event during the term of the new president, Jamie D. Reese.

On Pioneer Day, Nelson makes announcements on the public address system and is all over the place helping with the various stations. Gloria is one of the two hostesses in the log cabin and gives a wonderful account of life in colonial times.

Family Fun Day was an added attraction last summer. Nelson and Gloria thought of and instigated this special day for the families of Historical Society members. It proved to be a nice enjoyable, fun time and will be staged again next summer.

The Brookses are active members of Lincolnton Baptist Church. Their teamwork was previously demonstrated there by their extensive work with the Church's "Merry Makers." They sponsored this group of senior adults accompanying them on extensive van trips and making each month's luncheon meeting into a fun and games time with many door prizes awarded to members.

Nelson serves as president of the Lincoln County Republican Party. He faithfully attends their meetings, whole-heartedly leading them in their various projects. Gloria is his help mate in these endeavors. Although Nelson is not a native of Lincoln County, he relates to his Lincoln County Citizenship and introduces himself as "Mr. Gloria Norman."

Gloria is well accepted and remembered as being a Lincoln County native, daughter of Iris Albea and William Norman whose residence is just over the Wilkes County Line. She was employed by the Lincoln County Board of Education as a secretary in the School Superintendent's office with the late J. R. Freeman. She has worked with her father and her late husband, Eddie Aycock, in the stenographic capacity in their business endeavors.

This couple deserves recognition for their dedication to and work in Lincoln County and being named "Citizens of the Year - 2007" by the Lincoln County Historical Society gives them a token of credit where credit is due.