Ms. Rebecca Howerton got a big surprise recently when she was awarded the highest honor given to a non-Mason. The “Texas Masonic Grand Lodge Community Builder Award” for 2010 by Blanco Masonic Lodge 216. The presentation read:

“This lodge takes pleasure in nominating and selecting Rebecca Louise Howerton, this year’s winner of the Texas Masonic Grand Lodge Community Builder Award. Ms. Howerton is a native born Blanco resident who, for 44 years was a Texas educator. She has been “Teacher Of The Year” for the Houston Independent School District. After retirement, she continued public service belonging to civic organizations such as the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Eagles, Trinity Lutheran Women Of The Church, Blanco City Council, serving 12 years, Blanco Historical Commission, Keep Blanco Beautiful, the Lions Club and the Blanco County Historic Commission. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Blanco Pioneer Museum and the Heritage Trail Brochure. Her accomplishments go on and on…she has given over 400 books to the Lutheran New Life Center which is a home and shelter for abused girls. She is presently a part of Women Of The World and Women of the Lutheran Christian Mission Church, working to assist 3rd world countries struggling to survive.”

Presenting the award on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. and A.M. was longtime Blanco resident Dennis J. Moore and on behalf of Blanco Masonic Lodge 216 was Tom Williams.

The chairman of the Blanco Masonic Lodge publicity committee apologies to Ms. Howerton, the Blanco County News and the citizens of Blanco for the inexcusable delay in presenting the news of Ms. Howerton’s achievement and recognition.