New plaque by Awards Inc.honors Carl Jackson at Morrison Park.

A new plaque has been given to us by Award's Inc. (on the square in Glasgow), which honors Carl Jackson. The dedication of the Carl Jackson Tabernacle took place on Sept. 11, 2016, but the brass plaque to honor him was not yet prepared for the dedication. Awards Inc. has donated the plaque to Morrison Park and it will soon be permanently placed on the Tabernacle. Carl Jackson and his family were the largest contributors to the restoration of the park. Mr. Jackson's uncle, Rev. J.L. Piercy was a great friend of Dr. Morrison's , and went around the world with him in 1909 on an evangelism tour. See posts on this blog dated 1-27-2013 "J.L. Piercy remembered", and "J.L. Piercy cabin reconstructed", for more information. We are so thankful for the Carl Jackson family, and are so thankful to Awards Inc. for donating this wonderful brass plaque to honor and remember this special, and most generous man. Below is a biography of Carl Jackson written in by his son in honor of his father, recorded in the dedication program from September 11, 2016.

Carl Kenneth Jackson was born April 11, 1927 in Glasgow, KY to Ernest Harlow Jackson and Nannie May Piercy. Being the youngest of five children, family became an important part of his life at an early age as he lost his father when he was eight years old. His oldest brother, Joe Lee Jackson, became a surrogate father to him and he was supported to a great extent, by his other three siblings, Margaret, Thomas and Paul. He grew up on a farm on Glover Road, off the Burkesville Road, and use to walk to Vernon school on Vernon School Road, where he received his education. He was baptized in Falling Timber Creek and was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church.

He enlisted in the U. S. Army during World War II and served in both France and Germany. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1949, he returned to Glasgow, KY, where he met Roberta Ann Moran. They were married on November 2, 1949 by his uncle, the Rev. J. L. Piercy (Jehu Louis), a protégé of the Rev. Henry Clay Morrison. They were married in his uncle’s house in Glasgow, KY, which he later bought from him in 1959. As a bonus, the house included his uncle’s extensive library of religious and other literary works. They had two children, Steven Lee and Margaret Ann. Tragedy struck his life again on August 11, 1965 when his wife was killed in a car accident.

Although Carl had no college education, his entrepreneurial spirit was well versed in business. His business career started in many places in Glasgow including, as co­-owner of J & F Furniture and later, as the operating manager of the Uptowner Hotel and Restaurant. After leaving Glasgow, he went to Elizabethtown, KY, where he managed the Holiday Inn and Restaurant off of I-65. He later retired from Lowe’s as the building products manager, after traveling with Lowe’s to Owensboro, KY, Nashville, TN, and San Marcos, TX.

Carl’s life also included many civic and political endeavors, including serving as a Glasgow city council member for two terms, where he was greatly admired and respected by the people he represented. His family also had a history of Masons, which he became one in his early career, and eventually became a Master of Allen Masonic Lodge #24. He always loved his association with the Masons.

In the end of the Rev. J. L .Piercy’s life, Carl was a dedicated caregiver and spent many hours with him at the Glasgow Community Hospital. One of his last road trips from his retirement home in Louisville, KY, before his death on January 13, 2015, was to Morrison Park. He was so proud of the wonderful work that had been done by the many volunteers and the lasting footprint that Morrison Park would have in Barren County. He would be so happy and proud today to have the Tabernacle dedicated to him.