City Librarian Linda Dodson will receive a special and rare honor this month from the Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19.

For her tireless efforts during the renovation and expansion of the Huntsville Public Library, the members of the lodge will give Dodson the Community Builder Award during a special ceremony on May 21.

“The Community Builder Award is the highest award that can be given by local masonic lodge to a person who is not a mason,” said J. D. Dickenson, Secretary of Lodge No. 19. “The lodge formed a committee to accept nominations of various persons in the community to receive the award, and their recommendation was that Linda receive the award based on the fact that she was the driving force behind the renovation and expansion of the library.”

Dickenson said the Community Builder Award has not been presented in Huntsville since 2006.

“This award is not presented lightly – we only present it when we feel there is someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the community,” he said. “We know there were many people involved in the renovation and expansion of the Huntsville Public Library, but we think she was the one that went the extra mile and worked the long hours necessary to see it to fruition.

“Mrs. Dodson is to be recognized for her service and for what she helped to provide this community.”

Chartered in 1844, the Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19 has been a continual presence on the downtown square for over 168 years.

“We are a very big sponsor of the library, especially the Genealogy and local history room,” Dickenson said. “This lodge is oldest organization in Huntsville, and a number of Texas heroes have belonged to the lodge including General Sam Houston.”