Martin Library to Honor Georg Sheets

The Martin Library Honors Committee has announced its selection of Georg Sheets as its Fall 2019 Martin Honors honoree. Georg Sheets has served the York community in a variety of roles over the years, which will be recognized in an honors ceremony on October 20, 2019, at 2pm.

About Georg Sheets

Georg’s family moved to York, PA when he was 8 years old. He graduated from West York Area Senior High School and went on to get an English and Education Arts degree at Youngstown State University. After working as a high school English teacher and then a reporter for the York Dispatch, he spent 3 years in France teaching English as a second language. Upon his return to the US, he worked in several public relations positions, developed the first sign language class at York College, and arranged for tours for the Deaf community at the Historical Society of York (now the York History Center).

Service

YCL President Robert F. Lambert, Georg Sheets, and ShowcaseNow! publisher Kelly Summerford

In 1980 he wrote his first local history book, To the Setting of the Sun: The Story of York. Since that time, he has penned more than a dozen various local histories, edited others, and has greatly enriched his community in a variety of roles. These have included serving as a board member at the York Little Theater (now the Belmont Theater), the Strand-Capital Performing Arts Center (now the Appell Center), and the York Cerebral Palsy Home. He supported the creation of the William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum in downtown York, helping to prepare and plan the museum’s opening to the public in 2016. He is also editor-in-chief at Showcase Now!, a regional guide to art, culture, heritage, tourism and literacy. Presently, he works as the Planned Giving Officer for York County Libraries. In this role, he has helped library supporters craft a legacy to support libraries in York County for future generations.

For these and other services to his community, Georg will be duly honored at the reception on October 20, 2019, which is open for the public to attend. The Honors Committee members include Committee Chair Robert Cox; Brenda Elby; Lynne Danyo; Don Dellinger, Jr.; Robert F. Lambert; Donna Pullo; and Lori Rene Weyant. The honors ceremony will feature several guest speakers. These include Ellie Shoemaker, co-writer for two of his books; his brother-in-law Rodney Knaub and niece Beth Shoff; and actor Kelly Summerford. A reception will follow the ceremony.

A key component of the Martin Honors event is to establish a perpetual fund to purchase books in the name of the honoree. Contributions are welcome by donating securely online at donate.yorklibraries.org or by mail to:
Martin Library Honors Fund
159 East Market Street
York, PA 17401.
Community members interested in attending the October 20th celebration honoring Georg Sheets should RSVP online at donate.yorklibraries.org or call Bridget Vigue at (717) 849-6979.