Ed Pool Named 2014 Nacogdoches Citizen of the Year

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce will hold their 93rd Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at SFA's Grand Ballroom. Highlighting the evening will be the presentation of the Gary Justice Business Excellence Award recipients and the Citizen of the Year will be recognized.  

Ed Pool, a successful realtor and community leader will be presented the Citizen of the Year award.

The Nacogdoches Chamber contributed this press release concerning this year's Citizen of the Year.

"God has given each person a gift to explore," he said. "Mine happens to be Gifts of Service. If we know and understand that gift, we are more fulfilled in life." Ed's community involvement includes the Glory Gang, Nacogdoches Rotary Club, the Chamber, NEDCO, and his church.

In high school,  Pool was active in Key Club. "That's where I learned to serve," he said Ed's family held a special place for many Nacogdocheans of an earlier time. "My Grandfather C.S. Jones built a house in the early 1940s where MarketPlace II is now. It had a circle drive, and a screened porch. They would put a life-sized Santa with reindeer in the porch, and lots of people would drive around the driveway to show their kids. There wasn't much to do apparently in Nacogdoches back then!" he laughed.

The Pool and Jones families have ordered a Santa to go on the roof of the new shopping center to remind folks of that old tradition.

As a recent chair for NEDCO, what does Ed Pool feel Nacogdoches has accomplished lately?

"For me, the Career and Technical Education Center is top of my list," he said. "It is huge. NEDCO started the idea in 2009 with a study to determine the feasibility. The County came aboard to help us secure grants. Then when they felt it was time to move out, NISD came onboard. I was NEDCO Chair from 2009-11 so that was my top project. At the same time, the Biomass plant was being built and completed. And the (civic center) hurricane evacuation center was dedicated."

More recently he's served as the top volunteer for the Nacogdoches Rotary club.

"The Rotary Pavilion and the Mobile Library are two projects I'm proud of, as Rotary President for 2013-14.  We were looking for a brick and mortar project for Rotary. Jimmy Mize was involved with Lake Naconiche and suggested the pavilion. I've always like timber frame structures, so I contacted Tim Chauvin, and was delighted when he said yes. The day we were raising timbers was one of the best days of my life."

The Rotary club found recently that the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) had some additional money left from constructing the lake, and was willing to make it available for lake-related grants. "They encouraged us to apply," he said. "It could be from zero to $45,000. We figured we might get $10,000. In the end, with our detailed grant proposal, adjustments such as wheelchair-accessible sidewalk and willingness to work with them, we got the entire $45,000. We'll spread it over three years of projects, which will include a playground and picnic tables."

The Nacogdoches County Chamber is proud to name Ed Pool as its 2014 Citizen of the Year.