September 21st, 2018 – The presentation of the Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.
Rotarians often designate a Paul Harris Fellow as a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation. Today, we had the pleasure of recognizing Jim Cox as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Jim was born and raised in Brunswick and currently lives in Rosemont.
James Rippeon Presents Jim Cox with the Paul Harris Award
He has been married to his Brunswick High School sweetheart, Sandra Cox, for 52 years. Together they are the proud parents of two sons and four grandchildren.
In support of his country, Jim honorably served in the United States Army Reserve with the 3rd Armored Division and the 21st Signal Corps. And after a successful forty-year professional career, Jim retired from both IBM and Lockheed Martin in 2005.
Jim has been a volunteer for most of his adult life and is a life-long advocate for the City of Brunswick. It is apparent that we can all look to him as a influencer of the characteristics emulated by a model citizen.
During the 1970s and 80s, Jim was an active youth coach in all levels for the Brunswick Railroader Little League baseball program, and was also involved with the Potomac Valley Youth Association basketball program.
In 1971, Jim was elected to the Brunswick Medical Center Board of Directors, later became Secretary and eventually retiring in 2001 after thirty years of service.
In 1999, Jim began a volunteer association with Frederick Community College, serving as Member and then Chairman of the Community Advisory Council. He was elected to the FCC Community Foundation Board of Directors in 2005, served a term as Chairman, and “graduated” in 2013.
Starting in 2006, Jim served at Volunteer Frederick, co-founding and leading the Pro Bono Consulting program, which enlisted professional and tradecraft volunteers to meet the needs of many Frederick County non-profit Organizations.
For over 20 years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jim volunteered at the Brunswick Food Bank, buying and delivering stock, cleaning up, and just being a “ground soldier for whatever the Food Bank needed.”
Since 2005, Jim has served as a Director of the Park Heights Cemetery, and was elected President in 2012.
Over the past 40 years, and continuing to this day, Jim has been the President of the Board of Trustees of the New Hope United Methodist Church in Brunswick.
With this recognition, a kinder world is recognized as Jim Cox becomes a Paul Harris Fellow. It is because of gifts like the one made today that The Rotary Foundation is able to carry out an array of programs that achieve beneficial changes in our world. A contribution to The Rotary Foundation is an investment in the ideal of good will, peace, and understanding. That is an ideal held high by Rotarians the world over, and one that Jim Cox clearly shares.
Today, Smoketown Rotarian James Rippeon presented the three emblems of appreciation given to a Paul Harris Fellow – – the certificate, medallion, and pin. Please accept our congratulations and sincere thanks, for your commitment to our common goals and community.
District Governor Rich Glover talks with Jim Cox about the history of the Paul Harris Fellow Award
District 7620 Governor Rich Glover presented Mr. Cox with a Paul Harris Coin featuring Rotary International’s Four Way Test on the flip side.
Current Smoketown Rotarian Charles Harris was the first Paul Harris Award Recipient for our club. Charlie was in attendance at today’s presentation.
Read more about the history of RI’s Paul Harris Fellow Recognition at this link