This is the sixth of seven profiles of the honorees of the 24th-annual Outstanding Women of Clinton County Class of 2023. More information on the event, including how to obtain tickets, appears at the end of each profile.

Pauline Taylor – “Keep Calm and Carry On”

At 81 years young, Pauline Taylor wakes up every morning with a mission to better her community one step at a time. Although not originally from Clinton County, she takes pride in ensuring local streets, sidewalks, and greenspaces are kept clean and presentable.

Pauline is an avid walker, completing approximately two miles a day, near Prairie Avenue in Wilmington. During her walks she collects litter, garbage, and trash with the intent to dispose of it properly when she returns home. Her only desire is to give back to the community which is giving to her.

Pauline and her husband immigrated to the United States from England in the late 1960s. She landed in Wilmington in 1972 as a result of her husband’s ties to the Air Park. Pauline spent decades working for city leaders like the Adairs and the Boyds. When Mrs. Adair’s health started to decline and she needed errands completed, Pauline would happily complete the tasks for her off the clock. She is honest, kind and caring to anyone that she comes in contact with – no matter who they are. In addition to cleaning up trash in the city, she volunteers quite a lot when there are other beautification projects going on; working on the play area in Denver Park, placing flags on gravesites for Veterans for Memorial Day, picking up more trash throughout the city… the list goes on!

She loves to take care of her neighbors, specifically by taking trash cans back up to their homes after the trash route has ran for the week. And by “neighbors,” it’s not just one or two houses but truly the entire street on which she lives.

She also volunteers every year for the Community Thanksgiving dinner, some 15-16 years in a row, and has encouraged her own granddaughters to become more involved in giving back through the event. Pauline is a member of First Christian Church and avidly gives back there. Pauline has always said, “charity starts at home.” She never desires to be recognized for her efforts, as her famous line is “someone as to do it, it won’t do itself.”

Most recently, she was selected as a C4 Community Champion in 2023 as a result of her local efforts. Many of her accomplishments have gone unnoticed, but that is what she prefers. Pauline’s youthful commitment to service and desire to make Clinton County a beautiful, clean, and happy place to live are pure examples of what it means to be an Outstanding Woman.

Each honoree will be individually profiled in the pages of the News Journal in the days leading up to the 2023 Outstanding Women of Clinton County luncheon ceremony, set for Saturday, April 8 at the Roberts Centre near Wilmington. Doors will open at 11:30 with the luncheon starting promptly at noon.

The keynote speaker will be funny motivational speaker Kay Frances, who is “Helping America Stress Less. One Laugh at a Time.”

Tickets for the 2023 Outstanding Women of Clinton County luncheon are $25 (cash or check accepted, payable to “Clinton County Foundation”). Reservations can be made at the Wilmington News Journal, 1547 Rombach Ave., Wilmington, OH 45177 or by visiting their website at www.outstandingwomenclintoncounty.org

If you have any questions, please call (937)382-2574 or email [email protected]. Reservations can be made until March 24, 2023.