Pictured are (from left): John Henry Holloway, Sammy Arnold, Alan Ricketson, Alease Copelin, Clay Ihlo, Roger Doyle, and Wil Blackshear.
August 20, 2024 - Sam Samford Lodge #149 presented the Community Builders Award to Alease Copelin during a ceremony held August 6, 2024.
The event was opened by Alan Ricketson who thanked those present for their attendance and introduced Roger Doyle, Lodge Education Officer, to speak on Copelin and elaborate on her accomplishments which have drawn the eye of the lodge members.
“The purpose tonight, we have a member of our community and we’d like to recognize her years and years of service and it’s a real honor to have her here and to honor what she's accomplished,” said Ricketson.
Doyle explained the Community Builder Award has been designed to enable a lodge to recognize outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, to the local, state, and national government, to their church or synagogue, or to humanity. The award will be made available to be presented to individuals who, although they have never been initiated into masonry, have followed the same precepts, ideas, and standards that have been established from Masonic behavior.
“It is emphasized that, as with the Golden Trowel, the Community Builder Award is not necessarily designed to be given only to the obvious leaders of the community, those in the limelight, although they certainly must be considered. Lodges are encouraged to seek out men and women who, year-in and year-out, quietly and without fanfare, show their devotion to their community and its people without exception of awards or honors,” said Doyle.
Doyle said that every community has individuals who have earned the Community Builder Award over and over again. They may be found in service clubs, in the public school systems, in religious activities and public office and military or patriotic organizations and all sorts of volunteer work everywhere which may not often be seen.
“I can't think of anyone who meets the criteria better than our recipient for 2024. I've known Miss Alease for over 20 years. I can't tell you exactly when we met, but I can, with 99% certainty, tell you where we met, and it was either at school, or at church, or at some community function. That's where you'll find her,” said Doyle. “It's also through these organizations that I got to know how much she cares about people, most especially young people. Miss Alease worked many years counseling Center students as they navigated through high school and prepared for life after school.
Doyle described the level of dedication Copelin had to her students, as she was often seen working weekends and after hours.
“Miss Alease was always there to help the students from encouraging them to apply for scholarships to giving them stern instructions when needed. I would venture to say that she has been responsible for many young adult finding their place in this world,” said Doyle.
He remarked on Copelin’s dedication to her church, First Baptist, where she's involved with the Sunday School Department and greeting church members on Sundays and helping keep track of attendance. She has served in many other ways as the church needed her. Doyle continued saying Copelin’s also involved in many civic and community organizations, including the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and she has been involved with the Chamber of Commerce. And to further prove why she has been chosen for this award, “When I texted her about being here tonight, she said, ‘I don't know what I've done to deserve an award.’ So that goes to show you right there,” said Doyle.
Doyle shared that Copelin and her husband Rayford enjoy the arts, while Doyle and his wife Judy have had the opportunity to travel with them to plays and concerts. He said the Copelins love to try new food experiences, and Alease is a student of food preparation, having taken various classes on how to cook and prepare various foods.
According to Doyle, Copelin makes “the best chicken spaghetti in the world,” and she is very protective of her recipe which she does not share.
“So tonight is an honor to speak about my friend, Miss Alease Copelin, and to present from Sam Samford Lodge number 149 in the Grand Lodge of Texas our 2024 Community Builder Award. Ms. Alease thank you for all you have done and are continuing to do for our community,” said Doyle.
After receiving her award, Copelin reminisced about her father being a Mason and her familiarity with the lodge; however, she stated she was unaware of what the Community Builders Award was, “I really had no idea what this award was, but I can just say this, that my personal life verse Colossians 3:23, and it's ‘whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, but to me.’ So that is my verse that I live by,” said Copelin.
Copelin recently spoke with a Mason from Smith County who informed her of two programs he oversees in his area and she wanted to make sure the local Masons were aware of the “Fantastic Teeth” and “Take Time to Read” programs, which the Sam Samford Lodge members confirmed they participate in yearly and Copelin agreed that was a great thing.
“Thank you so much for this award, and thank you for all that you do in our community, because the character that you have because of this organization can't help but flow over into your everyday life. And that's what we do, is we live what we believe, and you do that. So thank you very much,“ said Copelin.
Clay Ihlo, Lodge Communications Officer, commented on the invaluable assistance Copelin has given to so many students as they have graduated and moved into the next phase of their lives through education.
“I know myself and Wil [Blackshear] that are one of the thousands of students Miss Copelin helped along the way and ensured we got every free dollar we could possibly get,” said Ihlo.
He remembered Copelin recently being at a Lion’s Club meeting and he spoke of a student who was also present for the meeting and what he had said to her, “I said, ‘I don't know if you know this or not but there's nobody better at what she does than this lady right here,’ and so I know I'm very appreciative and there are many many others that feel the same way so thank you miss Copelin, thank you.”
Wil Blackshear also shared how much he appreciates Copelin, “Miss Copelin I want to reiterate what Cousin Clay said along with us, and many others, we're very grateful not just the Center High School, but all the counties I mean just everything you've done with us - Roughrider Scholarship Foundation, Bone Hill Foundation - we can't put a price tag or a number on everything you've done for this community and the kids and we love you. We're proud for you, we're proud of you, and I wish we could do more for you,” said Blackshear.
John Holloway stated Copelin demonstrated a prime example of her character when just after receiving her award she offered ideas by way of the programs she mentioned as an opportunity for the lodge.
“She came in here to get an award, just like she does in our community she came in here to verify that we were raising the bar and that's exactly what she does with her students and the organizations that she works with. She raises the bar, so thank you for that,” said Holloway.
