John Cook has made big impact on many community efforts

By Amanda McKay

Pictured above: Dean Brookshier, Community Service Director (left) and Rev. David Molina, Rotary President (right), award the Unsung Hero Award to John Cook (center) of Chillicothe. Cook is semi-retired and continues to work in the Harden, Cummins, Moss and Miller CPA firm.

Constitution-Tribune

Fri Jun 27, 2008, 01:35 PM CDT

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Chillicothe, Mo. -

Chillicothe Rotary Club has honored John Cook with the Unsung Hero Community Service Award.

The award was first announced at the club’s annual Community Service Banquet and the formal presentation was made last week during the Rotary Club’s weekly meeting.
Father Bill Bellais gave the invocation and Brian Johnston and Matt Wenzel served as sergeants at arms. David Molina, president, opened the meeting and then invited Dean Brookshier to present the Unsung Hero Community Service Award to John Cook.

Brookshier welcomed Cook and stated that few people have been as involved in the community as he had. Cook thanked Rotary for the honor and admitted that when he heard about the award he was both surprised and humbled.

John E. Cook was born in Chillicothe, Mo., and attended both elementary and high schools here in town. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a degree in business administration. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi business fraternity.

Cook served three years with the U.S. Army and returned to Chillicothe to work at the Harden, Cummins, Moss and Miller, LLC, accounting firm. He earned his CPA certificate in 1964.

Cook was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Baptist Memorial Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Board, the Ambulance Board, the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Baptist Home, treasurer of Grand Oaks Baptist Assembly, former deacon and treasurer of First Baptist Church, Chillicothe, Mo., for 40 years and Y-Pal and buddy.

Cook served on the on the Chillicothe R-2 Board of Education for 16 years. He was first elected to the school board in April 1971 for a one-year term and was re-elected three times after that. He served as a treasurer from 1971 to 1973, vice president from 1974 to 1975, president from 1975 to 1976, vice president from 1978 to 1979, and president again from 1979 to 1980. He went off the board in 1981 and was re-elected to the school board in 2002 and served as treasurer a year later. In 2005 he was tapped as vice president and in 2006 he served as president.......