House receives Community Cornerstone Award

Carol House is CornerBank’s Community Cornerstone Award recipient for October. In recognition of her service, CornerBank will contribute $100 to the non-profit organization of House’s choice. She has selected Safe Homes to receive the contribution. A reception honoring House’s service will be at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, in the CornerBank community room, 125 N. Summit. The public is invited to attend the reception.

House is one of those volunteers who works quietly behind the scenes, lending a hand without others knowing she is helping. She has helped establish a payee program through Episcopal Social Services and acted as a payee for multiple individuals. She loves to cook for a crowd and is known to bring goodies to many of her volunteer endeavors.

Other volunteer activities include Junior Service League, Martha Washington Extension Unit, Cherokee Strip Museum Board, Arkansas City Area Arts Council Board and the Endowment Foundation for the House Hereford Ranch. She is a supporter of the Burford Project and organized the Friends of the Cherokee Strip Museum. She is a member and past president of P.E.O. Chapter ER. She has been a member of Trinity Episcopal Church for more than 30 years, where she served in many capacities, including youth leader, church school teacher and church school superintendent. She also served several terms on the vestry.

House was born in Arkansas City and graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1965 and Cowley College in 1967. She attended Emporia State Teachers College. In 1968, she married Dan Smith and they had two children, Jason and Jeffrey. She now has three grandchildren, Micah, Addie Mae and Canaan. In 1992, she married Bill House and became a rancher’s wife, which she describes as her favorite job.

House sold real estate in Arkansas City from 1973 to 1988. At age 40, she returned to school to become a cosmetologist, graduating from Xenon’s in Wichita with the award of valedictorian. She opened Salon 909 in 1988 and operated it until 2008.

House was selected for the award by the Community Cornerstone Award selection committee, which includes Arleta Rice, Judy Reedy, Karl Faidley, Curt Freeland and Brenda Combs. All are previous recipients of the Cornerstone Award. Volunteers are the cornerstones of healthy communities. They’re on your corner – the people next door. They’re in your corner – helping make our community stronger. The Community Cornerstone Award recognizes the time and effort of volunteers dedicated to serving people and enhancing the quality of life in Cowley County. If you know of a Cowley County resident who has shown servant leadership in community service, contact Joyce McArtor at 442-6500 or joycem@cornerbank.com for nomination guidelines.