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In the words of one of her nominators, Ellen Gibbs demonstrates pride and love of community in words and in deeds each and every day of her life. Ellen could teach us all something about being proud of the place in which you live and living so that that place will be proud of you.

Ellen was born in Brunswick 96 years ago, the youngest of a family of eight children. She graduated in the class of 1928 and went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Hiram College, a master's degree from Columbia and continued studies at Cornell and Berkley.

A member of 4-H as a child, she was always interested in home economics. She started teaching home economics in the Fairview Park High School in 1934 where she eventually became head of the department. In 1960 she co-authored a textbook that was used throughout the United States and Canada. She retired in 1973 and in all the years she taught, she never missed a day of work except for a relative's funeral.

She has always been involved in Brunswick through her participation in the Garden Club, Friends of the Library, the Brunswick Historical Society and Brunswick First Christian Church which was founded by her ancestors.

Ellen is a true community resource who has always taken an interest in Brunswick and is avid about preserving its history. She was dedicated to the establishment of the Brunswick Historical Society and even in her 90s, worked hard to help open the Heritage Farm museum. "She always has the time to answer the simplest question or to undertake any larger task that is asked of her," another nominator said.

She has held virtually every position at her church including Sunday school teacher, superintendent of the school, board chair of the congregation, deaconess and elder, elder emeritus, active member of the Christian Women's Fellowship and church representative to the Brunswick Ecumenical Women's group. Although she no longer drives, she still attends church every Sunday except the day of the annual Gibbs Family Reunion. She is secretary of that group who has held a reunion annually for more than 105 years.