Since the early 90s he has taken photos of winners at the annual ACS Volunteers Awards Luncheon, beginning with the first award that was given to the late John and Martha Miller Adams, volunteers extraordinaire for the ACS for decades and the couple for whom the award is named.
But in March, Clower had to hand his camera over to someone else because this time, the photo was to be taken of him – Emmett Clower, the recipient of the 2018 John and Martha Miller Adams Award the most prestigious award given by the Gwinnett ACS.
As he accepted the beautiful glass sculpture, Clower, addressed those in the Delmar Gardens banquet room with a thank you and the comment that he was one of the two people in the room who knew the couple.
A professional photographer, Clower served on the ACS Gwinnett Board of Directors, later known as the Gwinnett Leadership Council for more than 30 years, seldom missing a meeting and always present with his camera when asked. This correspondent remembers the day he took the photo of Marion Allison Webb for the ACS – the photo that today hangs in the Women’s Pavilion at Gwinnett Medical Hospital with other major donors to the wing.
“In addition to all the meetings he attended, his support includes taking a countless number of photographs of ACS events,” said Jodi Pierce, presenter, and former Leadership Council Chair. “Whether it was a fashion show, a golf tournament, a volunteer banquet or Relay For Life, Emmett could be found flashing photos and donating them to the cause.
“In the early 2000s, Clower’s devotion to the ACS took a personal side when he lost his dad and a brother to cancer.”
In addition to his service to the ACS, Clower was active in the Jaycees in his early years and served as president of his local chapter and as president of the Jaycees’ Georgia 6th Region. During his administration as mayor, the ever-popular Snellville Days was born, prospered and grew. Land was purchased and developed into what is now Briscoe Park. In addition, the City bought land adjacent to Briscoe Park for construction of a Gwinnett County Library.
Clower also served two separate years as president of the Gwinnett Municipal Association and was Gwin-nett Mayors’ Representative to the Atlanta Regional Commission. He served as president of the Snellville School Alumni Association and was president of the Snellville Historical Society.
“Over the years, Emmett Clower has devoted his life to serving others. Whether it was making Snellville a great place to live or volunteering for The American Cancer Society, he has always given himself to others,” Pierce concluded.
Phylecia Wilson and Emmett ClowerPrior to Clower’s award, several other awards were presented for service to the Gwinnett ACS.
“Today we thank you,” expressed co-host Jennifer Griffith of Gwin-nett Medical Hospital. “We thank you for your passion; thank you for your heart; thank you for your voice; thank you for your hard work; thank you for your energy; thank you for your hope.”
“Please know that your volunteer leadership is the heart of the American Cancer Society.”
Relay For Life:
•Community Partner of the Year Award – Gwinnett County Public School System presented by Kirsten Baker, Principal of North Gwinnett High School.
•Corporate Partner of the Year –Primerica presented by Holly Smith Gwinnett Relay For Life Event Lead
•Outstanding Relay For Life Volunteer Award – Becka Kinsler and Alex Mathis-Porter
•Heart of Relay Award –Elizabeth Smith
•Relay For Life Above and Beyond Award – Hawa Lansanah for the Lilburn Relay Rally
•Special Award – Mother of Lilburn Relay Rally Award – To the late Mayor Diana Preston accepted by Larry Preston and Jimi Taylor – presented by Jewel Anderson Community Development Manager
Road to Recovery
(Providing free rides to treatment for patients)
•Janet Bell (200 + patient rides)and Luci Johnson (160 patient rides) – presented by Dana Heyl Program Manager for Mission Delivery
Hope Lodge
•Most Valuable Priscilla Award Of Hope Lodge – Bonnie Welch presented by Danny Sheltz Senior Manager for Hope Lodge Atlanta
2018 Pink Ribbon Classic Award
•Pink Ribbon Achievement Award – Cindy Carlton
•Heart of Pink Ribbon Award – Fiona Sandler presented by Ki-ana Matthews, Senior Development Manager of Distinguished Events
ACS Facts – Since 1946 the ACS has invested $4.8 billion in cancer research, provided 8.5 free rides to treatment for cancer patients and since 2011 provided 800,000 free or low-cost screenings.
