Masons present community awards By JOHN FOOKS/Gazette Staff Two non-Masons and one Mason were honored Friday night in an awards ceremony sponsored by Border Lodge 672, Texarkana, Texas. Called the Community Builder Award, the Grand Lodge of Texas adopted the award in 1991 to recognize the good works of non-Masons within their communities. This year's awards were presented to Tom Sadowski and 202nd District Judge Bill Peek. "These awards are presented to individuals who, although they have never been initiated into Masonry, have followed the same precepts, ideals and standards that have been established for Masonic behavior," said Past District Deputy Grand Master Don Power, who presented the awards during the ceremony Friday evening. Dozens of Masons, members of the Order of Eastern Star, family and friends attended. Since moving to Texarkana in 1984, Sadowski has been involved in dozens of organizations and activities, from Boy Scouts to local veterans organizations to his church (St. Edward Catholic) to numerous civic and service organizations (March of Dimes, Senior Citizens Services of Texarkana, Texarkana Housing Authority, JAYCEES, Muscular Dystrophy Association). He is the owner/operator of McDonald's restaurants in Texarkana, Atlanta and Ashdown. Peek has been a civic leader, church leader, school board trustee, attorney and judge, serving in his community for the past 40 years. A graduate of Texarkana College and Baylor University, Peek served in the U.S. Army. He served as president of the Baylor Law Alumni Association in 1980-81. As a deacon at First Baptist Church, Peek served on the State Missions Commission and the Human Welfare Coordinating Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He practiced as a civil trial attorney in Arkansas and Texas and as president of the Northeast Bar Association and a director of the State Bar of Texas. Peek has served as a district judge for the past eight years. The Golden Trowel Award is reserved for Masons who have proved themselves outstanding in their service to Freemasonry and the community, Power said. This year's award went to James W. Jackson, who has been a Mason since 1952. "Brother Jackson is devoted to the teachings of Masonry and has served as president of the Bowie/Cass Shrine Club," Power said. "He has always been very much involved in our hospital drive funds and goes quietly but effectively on in his work for Masonry. He volunteers to drive children to the Shrine and Scottish Rite hospitals when needed and is always willing and ready to work for Masonry."