By Sandy Sanders
Today Cook County will honor Carolyn Harris with the naming of the Carolyn Harris Performing Arts Center at the county’s new high school. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.
I first met Carolyn when I moved to Adel in 1980 as publisher of the newspaper. She was the community-school coordinator. After our first conversation, I learned she was not a person to whom you could say no. I also learned that when you needed help she would not say no to you either.
After a few years there, I became involved in the Chamber moving on to chairman before we moved in 1990. In that 10-year span, I worked with Carolyn on project after project and the newspaper reported the success of project after project.
Through her, I first learned of the Georgia Council of the Arts. She was the Arts in Adel. Over the years, Carolyn and the Cook County Council for the Arts have given the community everything from local entertainment, to high school programs to Valdosta State University theatre and music groups to professional performers. One of the most liked programs in recent years was the Lowe Family, who performed for years at the Welk Theatre in Branson, Mo. I understand the Lowes will be the opening act for the new Carolyn Harris Performing Arts Center on Monday night, Aug. 31. This is a tremendous tribute to her.
Carolyn Harris loves Adel and Cook County. She loves its people especially its children. In giving back to the people there, she has never settled for second best. Carolyn is picky. “Do it right or don’t do it” fits her to a tee. That was my second lesson from her. I was told one time by a good friend that I had a “low tolerance for tacky,” so Carolyn and I made a good team.
She wanted the students in her county to have leadership skills and good manners. To her, you need both to be successful. During my years in Adel, Carolyn would bring in professionals to train both skill levels followed in the evening by a banquet where this training could be applied.
The desire she had most for the students at Cook High was for everyone to have an opportunity for an education beyond high school. It seemed to me at the time that every visit with her always had news of a new sponsor for a scholarship. She has a talent for finding money. From individuals to families to business to industry to civic clubs, everyone got the Carolyn Harris scholarship visit. They learned as I did, she would not accept no. The number of opportunities for college grew by the year. Honors Day at Cook High School includes a steady stream of scholarship announcements that now reach the hundred of thousands of dollars. This in itself is a tremendous testament to this lady. If I can be permitted to request anything of the people of my former home, it is to not be shy about being picky. Carolyn Harris will always have one desire of all of you: Whatever you do, do it right. And, I might add, do it with class.
Your teacher is one classy lady.
