Brown Awarded for Legacy of Leadership, Service

bestowed an award on Bartow County Commissioner Clarence Brown recently at its first fundraising gala celebrating the institution’s achievements throughout the past year. 

The event was held at Cartersville's and hosted 300 supporters. Randy Quick, general manager of Rome Radio Partners and a foundation board trustee, served as master of ceremonies.

GHC Foundation trustee and longtime friend Tommy Strickland presented Brown with the Heritage Award for his many years of work and outstanding contributions to Cartersville and Bartow County. 

“I can think of no one who has worked harder and is more deserving of such an award," he said. "GHC is just one of the many projects that Clarence Brown has helped bring from inception to completion for the people of Cartersville and Bartow County.” 

The Heritage Award, an annually presentation, honors those who have left a legacy of leadership, civic development and philanthropic contributions and who have served with integrity, honor, determination and vision. 

Brown, who is retiring after 20 years at the county helm, was instrumental in bringing GHC's Cartersville campus to fruition, and worked tirelessly to find funding for infrastructure and to keep Cartersville civic leaders and community members informed about the project’s development, according to the press release.

"Brown’s opinion that the Bartow community would enthusiastically support a campus in the rapidly growing county was proven accurate," it says. 

After the doors of the campus' first building opened in 2005, GHC’s enrollment immediately increased by 50 percent. Today the building has more than reached its capacity of 2,000, reflecting enrollment that has tripled since 2005. 

Before the new campus opened, Cartersville enrollment totaled 799. This past fall, it was 2,145. 

Gov. Nathan Deal recently signed the state budget for 2013, which includes design funding for a new academic facility. In August, a —a public/private venture financed for 30 years and repaid with a portion of student fees, as approved by students—is set to open in time for the fall semester, which begins xxx. 

Gala guests were treated to a VIP reception, dinner and musical entertainment by Theresa Hightower. Proceeds from the gala benefit the college’s student scholarship program.