Rotary Club recognizes couple with Spirit of Andalusia Award

The Andalusia Rotary Club on Tuesday awarded its annual Spirit of Andalusia award to husband and wife duo, and all-round good citizens, Roger and Cathy Powell. Rotary Foundation Board chairman David Darby made the presentation.

Roger Powell worked as a juvenile probation officer before being elected Circuit Clerk of Covington County, a job he kept for 24 years. Cathy Powell retired after more than 31 years as an elementary school teacher where she taught gifted classes, art and music, and founded the Andalusia Elementary School chorus.

But both are known as much for their volunteer work as their distinguished professional careers.

Mrs. Powell was a longtime board member and chairperson of the Covington County Distinguished Young Woman program. The couple’s collaborative comedy skits were de rigeur in the storied Red Garter Review. They have been involved in and directed community theater productions, organized elementary school art shows, and even been part of Andalusia Ballet performances.

Most recently, they founded ReAct Theatre and Arts. Since being organized in 2022 to produce the original local history play, “Women of the Jury,” written by Andalusia native Marianne Merrill Weber, the group also has produced mural walks two dramatized tours of Magnolia Cemetery with locally-researched and written scripts; hosted an art show and lecture series featuring the work of Shiney Moon, and staged “Charlotte’s Web,” “Willy Wonka,” “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” and presented Sean of the South locally.

Both are accomplished and prolific artists, who have shared their talents and inspired others to pursue creative endeavors through art camps and art lessons.

They also are members and elders of First Presbyterian Church, where they volunteer with the church’s Love Thy Neighbor program and sing in the choir.

They are the parents of two daughters, Allyn (Hank) Walters and Lauren (John) Harris, and the delighted grandparents of 1-year-old Betty.

The Spirit of Andalusia award is presented annually to a member of the community who embodies the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” The only criteria is that the award cannot be presented to a Rotary member. In addition to local recognition, the Andalusia Rotary Club makes a contribution to Rotary International in each recipient’s honor.