May 24, 2017 - Joaquin Lodge #856 presented the Community Builders Award to Portia King, LVN, on May 13, 2017.
Billy Claybough, Senior Warden of the lodge, led the evening's event. He welcomed everyone and following a prayer and pledges to the American and Texas flags Jerry Agnew, Senior Steward (acting Secretary), gave a history of King's work in Joaquin.
According to the history given by Agnew, Portia King graduated from Logansport High School in 1962 as an honor student. She was awarded the Commerce Award. She went on to marry the love of her life, Ronald King. They made their home in Joaquin and had two children, Millard and Rondalyn. King worked in accounting and bookkeeping until she decided to pursue a degree in nursing. She and her husband attend and are members of Joaquin Church of Christ.
King received her degree in nursing from Panola College, where she graduated in February 1986 and was licensed May of that year. She is a member of the National School Nurse Association, as well as the Texas School Nurse Association and is a certified CPR instructor. In addition to her normal duties King organizes many programs such as Walk for Diabetes, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Pasta for Pennies), and a Summer Safety Program within the school district.
King has been with Joaquin ISD as the District Nurse since 1996, also contributing her time as a bus driver which she previously had done for four years with the school. Together, her total years with Joaquin is 25. During 31 years of nursing, King has worked in several nursing settings such as doctor's offices and nursing homes.
Early in King's career, she worked for Dr. Sandifer until his retirement. This was followed by working four years at Willis Knighton and working for Dr. Sayers. When King began her work at the school, she worked half of the day as the school nurse and the other half of her day was as charge nurse of a nursing home which she did for 13 years. After that time, King left her position at the nursing home to work full-time as the school nurse. Upon going to work as a nurse, King found her niche due to her love of people and caring for them.
In King's spare time, she loves working in her flower garden, going shopping, and on vacations. Most of all she loves to spend time with her grandchildren, Lauren and Jake.
Vance Jordan, Lodge Chaplain, then had the honor of presenting King with the Community Builder's Award and accompanying certificate, which Jordan read aloud, "Community Builder's Award, presented to Portia King in recognition of distinguished service and personal contributions to the community of Joaquin, Texas. Joaquin Lodge #856 AF and AM hereby awards this certificate to honor the above individual as Community Builder."
In addition to the honor bestowed upon King by the Lodge, she was presented with a flag and letter from Texas Rep. Chris Paddie which read as follows: "Dear Portia, congratulations on earning the Community Builder's award for Joaquin Masonic Lodge. Having grown up around Masonic Lodges, I understand not only the honor that this award bestows and requirements, but also the humility which has been demonstrated by community builder recipients. I know that your lodge does extraordinary work in our community and the members strive on a daily basis to make Joaquin a great place to live and raise our families. It is because of great individuals such as yourself that give me such honor to represent east Texans in the House of Representatives. Please accept this flag, it was flown above the Texas Capitol in your honor. Just a small token of my appreciation for all the work you have done and will continue to do for Joaquin."
Accompanying the flag was a certificate dating and authenticating the flag.
King was then invited to the podium to say a few words.
"I thank all of you here at the lodge for honoring me with this award. It's still a shock to me," said King.
She told the story of how she was informed she was to receive the honor from the lodge.
"When Mr. [Jay] Wilson came to the school to talk to me, well the way he was talking to me I thought, 'okay, he's wanting me to tell him something about somebody that's going to get something.' Then he turned around and told me that it was me that y'all had agreed to give the award. I was totally shocked," said King.
She extended her thanks to all members of the lodge and expressed how it had great meaning for her.
King said that she appreciates the Masonic Home and the Masonic Lodge in Joaquin for everything they do. She also said the last four years the Lodge has nominated the first grade students to participate in the Fantastic Teeth program, which she said the children really love.
Toward the end of the program Agnew added remarks about King working with the students during the Fantastic Teeth program.
"Ms. Portia greets us with open arms, makes us feel very welcome. Above that you just ought to see her with those kids in there when we're doing this program," said Agnew. "She is wonderful with kids and when she puts on that program, and we're just standing back there in the corner holding the goodies to give out to the kids, she keeps their attention and she makes it fun and interesting and educational to them. So, you have a great way with these youth that we all appreciate you very much."
