Jessie “Elwood” Brown

 Elwood was President of the Charleston Life Member Club in 1988 when the “Sawdust Gang” began.  A group of 22 retired telephone men who wanted to help others.  Elwood and his gang helped build two houses, later adding two rooms to other homes in Alderson and Mullens, West Virginia

He assisted in building handicap ramps for the “Make-A-Wish” foundation throughout the Kanawha Valley for more than 15 years.  Age took its toll and the gang retired after their last project building a handicap ramp in 2007.  The hours volunteered by Elwood over 19 years adds up to more than 40,000!!

Though retired from the manual sawdust jobs of volunteering, Elwood remains active and involved through the Charleston Life Member Club.

He volunteered in Elkview, West Virginia at Goodwill Industries remodeling a store; Net Day wiring at Bridge Elementary School; the Christmas in April Project building a deck and ramp at a residence for a disabled woman in Tuppers Creek, West Virginia; and with Safety City installing lines to prepare for a security alarm system in Charleston, West Virginia.

Elwood says, “As chairperson of this special group (Sawdust Gang) I give thanks to all of them.  They are special in my heart forever and friends for life.”