Tibbs recipient of inaugural in honor of the late officer Rory Micou
By joey lee
The Bolivar Bullet
Cleveland Central High School’s Lucille Holmes Chapter of the Beta Club recently unveiled the Officer Rory A. Micou Service Award, and on December 1 presented the prize to Dr. Bob Tibbs for his dedicated service to the community.
The award, named after the school’s former SRO Officer known for his dedication, recognizes individuals who embody the club’s motto, “Let us Serve Others.”
The inaugural recipient, Tibbs was not only surprised by the award but deeply moved by the honor.
The Beta Club, an organization dedicated to service at CCHS, requires its members to accumulate a minimum of 30 service hours during the school year. With more than 80 members, the club is known for instilling values of community service and commitment to making a positive impact.
The idea to establish the Officer Micou Service Award stemmed from the legacy of the school’s former security officer. He was dedicated to serving not only the school but the community as well.
Having to retire early due to illness, Micou continued his service whenever possible, assisting with traffic duties, working at school events and being a positive influence to students, embodying the spirit of the Beta Club. Sadly, Micou lost his battle with cancer, leaving a void for the school community.
“He was instrumental in helping some kids stay in school, fussing at them like the rest of us when they needed it,” said Margaret Black, one of the Beta Club faculty sponsors. “The kids respected him enough to listen and say, ‘Yes sir.’”
To honor Officer Micou’s service, the Beta Club dedicated the award to him.
This year’s recipient was selected through a review of the award’s criteria by the club sponsors and school administrators. The group immediately thought of Tibbs who is known for his extensive involvement in both the school and the community.
The night of the ceremony, Tibbs thought he was at the school to see his daughter, Rachel, receive an award. When she took the stage and delivered a moving speech and presented him with the award, he was shocked and speechless. “Thanks!” was all he could muster when asked if he wanted to say anything.
“This year is our first-ever recipient and in my opinion, couldn’t have chosen anyone better,” Rachel said in her speech. “Everywhere we go, from the grocery store to simply going out to eat, we’ll see someone he’s impacted.”
Black emphasized the importance of teaching students the value of serving others. “We’re trying to teach our kids to do work for others, showing them it will pay off for them in satisfaction and knowing they helped,” she said.
The club’s members seem to be learning this important lesson well. This year, the club has engaged in 2 major service projects, providing food to a local pantry and supplies to an organization that provides snacks to chemotherapy patients.
Reflecting on the honor, Tibbs expressed humility, saying, “I wasn’t expecting it at all, and I don’t know that I’ve done anything to merit the award, but it was nice to hear.”
Although Tibbs never met Officer Micou, he had heard a lot about him. “It’s really an honor to be associated with a man like that,” he said.
As the Officer Micou Award becomes an annual tradition, it will serve as an important reminder, honoring the man who gave of himself to help the school and community, and the importance for others to follow in his footsteps.