2024 Georgia Hall of Fame
The Georgia Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame began in 2009 as a result of a proposal presented to the Georgia Area Council. The plan provided that the Georgia Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame would be developed under the leadership of a council of advisors to honor those youth members, men, and women who have best served the Boys & Girls Club cause in Georgia as well an effort to preserve institutional knowledge and the culture of the Boys & Girls Club Movement.
The Georgia Hall of Fame celebrates the extraordinary youth, men and women who have made significant contributions to the Boys & Girls Club Movement in Georgia. Each has helped raise the standards and level of professionalism in the Boys & Girls Club Movement, while inspiring and mentoring future generations, laying the ground work that encourages us all to strive for excellence in helping children who need us most.
Pat Bush
Legacy Member
Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Cook County Area
Pat Bush graduated from Cook High School in 1963, where she was captain of the cheerleaders. She continued her education at Georgia Southwestern College earning a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She furthered her education by earning both her master’s degree and Education Specialist degree. She taught school for 30 plus years. She was active in Retired Educators, Outstanding Educators Sorority (Alpha Delta Kappa), a founding member of Cook County Reading Council, and served as President of the Georgia Reading Council. Pat served on the Adel/Cook Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She was a charter member of the Cook County Council for Arts, a member of the Friends of Reed Bingham State Park, member of the Civitan Club, Pilot Club, and an active member of First Baptist Church, where she sang alto in the choir.
With her background in teaching her commitment to the boys and girls of Cook County was obvious, and it was not surprising when she became an integral part of establishing the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Cook County Area. Pat was a charter member of the Board of Directors for the Club. She served 17 continuous years as a board member, serving in every named board position available.
Because of her community involvement she never missed an opportunity to solicit support and donations for the Boys & Girls Club. At every Chamber, Community, Church event throughout the years there was always a booth for the club. Pat would set up the table, selling items crafted by club members, yard sale finds, handmade crafts, and even concessions—all to support the Club. Her Sunday School Class and the Adel Pilot continue to make generous donations – all because Pat asked people to donate.
Pat lived a life of service: to God, family, friends, and the young people of Adel/Cook County.
John Brooks
Career Achievement
Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club, Dayton Boys & Girls Club, and Wilson Boys & Girls Club
Believing in giving back to his community, John has served on numerous boards and committees. Some of his involvement includes service on a bank board of directors, a hospital system board, Junior Achievement board and the Boys & Girls Clubs on the local, regional and national levels. He is a former mentor for the 100 Black Men of Savannah at the Pooler Elementary School.
He is currently the Board Chairman at the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club in Savannah, GA. He held the same position at the Dayton Boys & Girls Club in Dayton, OH and the Wilson Boys & Girls Club in Anderson, IN. He has served on the State Alliances of both Ohio and Indiana. Nationally John has served on several Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s committees, including the National Diversity Committee (Chairman), the National Pension Committee and nine years on the National Area Council Committee (NACC).
John was the recipient of the W. Clement Stone Award in 2002 (national board member of the year), the Jeremiah Milbank National Gold Medallion in 2004 for regional service to the national movement. In 2019, John received BGCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for services rendered. John received President George W. Bush’s Call to Service Award in 2008. This award acknowledged over 4,000 hours of volunteerism at that time.
He was featured in Gray’s tenth edition of Who’s Who Among African Americans. John is a life member of the NAACP, and a member of the Low Country Duffers Golf Club.
John and his wife Barbara are residents of Pooler, GA and are the proud parents of one son, Jason (Indy) & granddaughter June.