Glema Mahr

    Born in the small community of Seward, Nebraska, Glema Mahr received her B.A. at State Teachers College in Peru, Nebraska. She was employed by American Airlines from 1940 to 1949. On December 22, 1941, Glema married Dr. Merle Mahr, also from Seward. She taught at the Memphis School of Commerce for four years while Dr. Mahr completed his surgical residency. In 1953, the couple moved to Madisonville, Kentucky, when Dr. Mahr became one of five physicians to organize and establish Trover Clinic. In November 1985, Regional Medical Center dedicated the Merle M. Mahr Cancer Center, in recognition of Dr. Mahr's lifelong commitment to health care in our community.
    The Mahrs brought with them from Nebraska a love for the land and an interest in farming. In 1963, they purchased land and christened it Hidden Hills Farm. Clearing land, planting, and raising cattle and horses, Glema embraced this opportunity to make her dream a reality. Today, it continues to be a working farm where she raises registered Black Angus cattle. She can be seen from time to time walking in the fields, taking in the sights and sounds of the land while checking on the herd.
    Glema is the kind of person a community needs. She combines a wealth of experience with a healthy portion of community pride and generous commitment to helping others. She moves easily from farm to office, from classroom to concert hall, from advisory committees to volunteer groups. Glema is a past member of Discover Downtown, and she has served on the Boards of the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity of Hopkins County. She also served six years on the Board of Directors of the United Way and is Ambassador Emeritus for the Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA, Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library, Madisonville College Foundation, and the Community Improvement Foundation. Glema has also been a member of two local book clubs since the 1950's.
    In 1997, Glema was inducted into the Hopkins County Hall of Fame, along with her late husband. Also in 1997, she was honored by the Madisonville Lions Club as Woman of the Year, and in 1998, she was awarded Hopkins County Farmer of the Year. On October 19, 2000, Glema was recognized as Woman of Achievement by the Madisonville Business and Professional Women's Club. Glema also received both the state and the regional 2001 Benefactor's Awards from the Council for Resource Development. On May 4, 2001 she was presented with the first award for the State of Kentucky, "in recognition of outstanding service on behalf of Madisonville Community College." The second was presented to her at a Gala in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2001, where she received national recognition. Out of the eight states that were represented, Glema was selected over all to represent Region IV. Mrs. Mahr's most recent award, January 20, 2005, is the Loman C. Trover Health Care Award, presented at the Madisonville-Hopkins County Chamber Banquet for her "generous support of the Merle Mahr Cancer Center as well as her efforts on behalf of many other area institutions and programs."
    A dedicated and active supporter of the arts, Glema believes that the quality of life in a community can be immeasurably enhanced when people of all ages and backgrounds have access to the arts. She remains an active participant at the Center. Her ninth year of serving on the Center's Advisory Committee is as an ex-officio member, and she is serving for the eleventh year, as volunteer. As a Center volunteer, Glema logs more than two hundred hours each season as she manages mailings, ushers children in the School Days Matinees and works as a Docent each week. In fact, it was Glema who organized and coordinated the Center's first Docent Program, which provides volunteer help daily for The Anne P. Baker Gallery. Glema has supported the Center financially since 1992, and has sponsored the chamber series since 1995, which honors her by being named the Glema Mahr Chamber Music Series.
    On February 29, 2000, the Madisonville Community College Fine Arts Center was renamed the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts in honor and recognition of Glema's contributions to this Center, this College, and this Community.