George West seniors Megan Hardwick and Megan Moore, as well as college freshman Michael Riser received Lamar scholarships. Norma Williams received the Community Builder’s award.
After the meal, Masonic Master Robert Lowrie began by giving a brief explanation of Masonic Lodge history and benevolent activities. He said the Masonic Lodge is a fraternal organization that goes back several thousand years; it goes back far enough that the first Masons were actually stones masons said Lowrie.
“Our organization sustained itself over the years and now we have become ‘accepted masons’; we don’t have anything to do with the Masonic trade of masonry. But we are a fraternal organization, we are a benevolent organization, and I am proud to say, our lodge has sustained itself and stayed the same throughout the years,” said Lowrie.
“When we come in to do our work here, and believe me, there is no secret work that goes on in here; we do the same work our forefathers did,” said Lowrie. Some forefathers include George Washington and Benjamin Franklin; they helped draft the constitution of the United States of America; and incorporated a lot of the Masonic principles and a lot of Christian principles into the constitution said Lowrie. “This is the kind of organization we are. And did I mention we are a benevolent organization? Last year in the United States, Masons donated to charity in excess of $1,000,000 for every day of the year; $365,000,000 was donated through benevolent programs around the country,” said Lowrie.
One of the Masons’ benevolent activities is the Lamar awards program. Each year the organization recognizes two or three students at George West high school who are in the junior class. “We do that so that they have the privilege of being the Lamar recipient throughout their senior year,” said Lowrie. “Now, you ask, what is the Lamar award? The Lamar awarded is named after Mirabeau B. Lamar. He was the second president of the Republic of Texas.” He came out of Tennessee and joined up with another Mason and first president of The Republic of Texas, Sam Houston. Together they fought in the Battle of San Jacinto said Lowrie.
Lamar saw the necessity of an education and as president, he enacted legislature that guaranteed every child in the Republic of Texas received a public education. “I don’t think there is anyone who we could have named our award after that better met the criteria of the father of Texas education,” concluded Lowrie.
Following, Masonic Brother Larry Busby introduced the scholarship recipients. Busby began by saying, “There is no special order. Let’s see, the first is Megan Hardwick.” Next, Busby named Megan Moore, and Michael Riser. Riser currently attends Texas A&M University. Subsequently, Brother Lamon Bennett introduced Norma Williams as the recipient of the Community Builder’s award.
Bennett said, “Norma Williams has been a cheerful and valuable citizen of George West for over forty years. She has spent many hours volunteering in various activities in our community that have benefited people of all ages, but especially our youth.”
“When she and her family moved here in 1966 there was no Girl Scouts of America in George West. She promptly organized, established, and supervised units for our town,” said Bennett.
Bennett went on to relate other projects Williams volunteered with such as 4-H, junior high homemaking, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Miss Live Oak County Pageant and as an exchange student host. Williams also assists residents in Live Oak Nursing Center by running errands for them.
“Norma Williams has not had a care-free life, but she has had a life full of care for others. She brings joy to any group or person she contacts. She is truly a special citizen of George West. Her reliability and selflessness has earned her the nickname ‘Granny’, given to her by the countless youth she has helped through the years,” said Bennett.
When questioned about the large number of hours she spends helping the youth of Live Oak County, Williams modestly replied, “Seeing the kids happy is enough for me.”
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