Cora Brown Proclamation

Whereas, Cora L. Tompkins was born August 21, 2010, in Blaine, Maine, the sixth child of a Baptist minister, Ralph B. Tompkins and Ella Crabb Tompkins, attended school in Aroostook County and graduated from Presque Isle Normal School.

Whereas Cora L. Tompkins came to Portland in the early 1930s where she met Walter Brown an Oakhurst milk wholesaler at a dance at Portland City Hall and married him in 1935.

Whereas Cora L. Brown has had several careers: Taught fourth grade in Aroostook County, Dietician at Maine General Hospital, cooked for a Cape Elizabeth businessman, operated a Woodfords Corner restaurant, and owned the Hearing Aid Institute of New England for 28 years.

Whereas Cora L. Brown has been actively involved in several service organizations in Portland, including:

Whereas Cora L. Brown has served the City of Portland as and election worker and Ward Clerk in various wards since the 1936 election and as a Commissioner on the 1986 Charter Commission.

Whereas Cora L. Brown has worked to elect fiscally responsible political leaders as a part of the Republican Party including membership and leadership of the following organizations:

Portland Republican City Committee;

Cumberland County Republican Committee;

Portland Business Women Republican Club, President and Parliamentarian;

Maine Federation of Republican Women; and

Delegate to various National Republican Conventions.

Therefore The City of Portland declares That Cora L. Brown be named the Citizen of the Century in recognition of achieving the age of 100 and providing 75 years of service to Portland and the greater community.