CASSOPOLIS — To the sound of applause, lifelong Cass County resident Barbara Wood Cook stood and accepted a framed award Thursday evening and many sentiments of appreciation from those in the county.

“This is all very surprising,” Cook said. “But I’m very honored.”

During the regular board of commissioners meeting, Cass County Administrators awarded Cook a legacy achievement award for her many years of service to the county. Prior to the meeting, a reception was held in Cook’s honor at the county building.

The occasion marked the first time that the commissioners have awarded a legacy achievement award.

The award is meant to recognize those who have left a lasting legacy and impact in the community of Cass County, said County Administrator Karen Folks.

“The folks we want to recognize are leaders in their contributions. They are pioneers. They are trailblazers,” Folks said. “They are positive agents of change that have given their knowledge, talents, resources to this community. No matter what challenges they have faced, they have persevered. They have a can-do attitude.”

The award was created with Cook in mind, Folks said, as Cook has a long history of service to the county. She worked many positions in Cass County, including as supervisor of Pokagon Township and as the chair of the Pokagon Township Cemetery Board. She served as secretary of the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees from 1964 to 1990, after retiring as an educator in the Brandywine School District. Cook was an appointed member of the Cass County Historical Commission, where she helped to have locations in Cass County named as historical markers and led historical tours. She also spent 18 years on the planning commission.

“[Cook] is setting the bar high for all our future legacy achievement winners,” said commissioner Michael Grice.

Folks said that Cook embodied everything she and the commissioners wanted someone who receives a legacy achievement award to be.

“[Cook] is truly inspirational,” Folks said. “She has given so much to this county.”

Cook said that though the work she did in the county was hard and often didn’t feel like it was appreciated, she was humbled by the award.

“It was very nice to be awarded after all these years,” she said. “Seeing this, I just wish I was younger so that I could serve longer.”

The board of commissioners has not yet decided who the next winner of the award will be nor even how often the award will be given. The commissioners are currently planning to meet in the fall to determine those details.

“We really think this first event went very well,” Folks said. “We would love to see it happen again.”